My poor baby boy
I didn't know that there was a problem in Virginia. Soren never mentioned it. I mean, I noticed little things about his behavior that concerned me a bit, but nothing huge. And we'd talk about it. And that was that.
But tonight my baby spilled it all. Apparently he's been teased for years about his size. Not his height so much as his weight. He's been called fat and apparently some swear words have been tossed into the mix. Now, I know Soren is not super thin. He's also not super fat. He is active - he loves to play outside, run around, ride bikes, play basketball and soccer - and is usually out doing one of these things at least once a day. He would rather eat a plateful of broccoli than a plate of cookies. So I don't worry about his health because I know he is healthy - even if he is a bit chubby. And I will not, under any circumstances, put my 10 year old on a diet or force him to work out. He's a kid, for goodness sake.
However, kids are cruel creatures. There are always a few who will find some kid who is different in some way and bug them. And it's happening to my Soren. My sweet, kind, big hearted little boy. And it really sucks seeing him hurt for any reason, but especially by kids at school - especially at a new school in a new place. He said to me tonight - I thought this would be a fresh start, but it's just the same. Ugh. As someone who has finally, after 30 years, come to terms with her body and self image and all of that, it kills me to see my baby just starting down the path (which I really hope he doesn't travel too long).
I tried to talk to Alan about it. He's always been big. I know he was teased growing up. I know it hurt him. But he didn't really know what to say to Soren. He didn't even really know what to say to me. I'm sure he doesn't want Soren to go through what he went through, but he's just not sure what to do about it.
I know kids will be kids. It's part of life. But as a parent, you just don't want it to be YOUR kid. Of course I think it would suck worse if Soren was doing the teasing, but still . . . I just want to wrap him up in my arms and protect him. I want to go to the school and yell at those kids who are doing this to him. But that doesn't teach him how to deal with the jerks that litter the world.
Tonight, though, that's all I want to do. Just hug him.
I did email his teacher to make her aware. I just want him to find a few friends, but I worry that might not happen. Alan says it never happened for him. And that just made me even more sad.
Ugh ugh ugh.
Any suggestions aside from the obvious?
On a side note: pregnancy hormones aren't helping me deal well with this lol - I just want to cry!
But tonight my baby spilled it all. Apparently he's been teased for years about his size. Not his height so much as his weight. He's been called fat and apparently some swear words have been tossed into the mix. Now, I know Soren is not super thin. He's also not super fat. He is active - he loves to play outside, run around, ride bikes, play basketball and soccer - and is usually out doing one of these things at least once a day. He would rather eat a plateful of broccoli than a plate of cookies. So I don't worry about his health because I know he is healthy - even if he is a bit chubby. And I will not, under any circumstances, put my 10 year old on a diet or force him to work out. He's a kid, for goodness sake.
However, kids are cruel creatures. There are always a few who will find some kid who is different in some way and bug them. And it's happening to my Soren. My sweet, kind, big hearted little boy. And it really sucks seeing him hurt for any reason, but especially by kids at school - especially at a new school in a new place. He said to me tonight - I thought this would be a fresh start, but it's just the same. Ugh. As someone who has finally, after 30 years, come to terms with her body and self image and all of that, it kills me to see my baby just starting down the path (which I really hope he doesn't travel too long).
I tried to talk to Alan about it. He's always been big. I know he was teased growing up. I know it hurt him. But he didn't really know what to say to Soren. He didn't even really know what to say to me. I'm sure he doesn't want Soren to go through what he went through, but he's just not sure what to do about it.
I know kids will be kids. It's part of life. But as a parent, you just don't want it to be YOUR kid. Of course I think it would suck worse if Soren was doing the teasing, but still . . . I just want to wrap him up in my arms and protect him. I want to go to the school and yell at those kids who are doing this to him. But that doesn't teach him how to deal with the jerks that litter the world.
Tonight, though, that's all I want to do. Just hug him.
I did email his teacher to make her aware. I just want him to find a few friends, but I worry that might not happen. Alan says it never happened for him. And that just made me even more sad.
Ugh ugh ugh.
Any suggestions aside from the obvious?
On a side note: pregnancy hormones aren't helping me deal well with this lol - I just want to cry!