I hope she gets the care she needs. It's very scary as a parent to hear these stories. Even if your kid isn't on the social media, the other kids are and "talking" behind her back and she knows something is going on. Schools need to stiffen the penalties for cyber-bullying as much as physical bullying - I don't know, maybe the state has to get involved, if it takes charging kids with a misdemeanor, or issuing restraining orders to prevent driving another kid to suicide then that's what it takes! DS is 15, has always been a thoughtful, sensitive, private kid with a few close friends, not into the "popular" activities but seems to be happy, is definitely busy with Scouts, track, and church. I don't know what other kids may be saying about him, but at least he doesn't know either - or doesn't care. He is going to camp counselor training in a few weeks, and then to National Youth Leadership training for Scouts, hopefully next summer he will get a job at the Scout camp. OK, I'm bragging I guess but I think he's a good role model, and I *think* he's not at risk for depression. DD is 5 years younger and starting puberty - she has 2 very close friends, and watching others coming up to her after school concert she seems to be "popular" but again doesn't have the same interests as many her age (she's also almost a year older than everyone else in her grade, both kids are Nov birthdays and we decided to start DD later than DS since he had been in daycare/preschool and was an early reader, she was a late talker/potty trainer). She's more sensitive to peer pressure - I suppose girls usually are? I wouldn't pull her out to HS unless I thought there was a serious problem, I want to wait to see if she keeps/makes friends in middle school. I hope that keeping her in Scouts will help - if the leaders can keep a group of girls aware of the problems that bullying can cause, and keep them believing in their own value in spite of other people (peers, even some siblings and parents I know of) telling them otherwise. Girl Scouts just doesn't seem to be as organized as Boy Scouts though, and not too many girls seem to keep up with it through middle and high school, from what I can tell by the size of the troops in our town. But "mean girls" start early - DD ran into one her first day of kindergarten. Add a mean teacher, and in 1st grade she was begging me to HS her! At least 2nd - 4th she has regained her love of school, is actually disappointed to have only a few days left this year.

Thanks for the good thoughts-- I so appreciate your words. So, the plot thickens. My DS(5)was complaining that his hip/leg hurt last night. He mentioned it in the middle of the night when he wet the bed and we were getting things cleaned up. I didn't think much of it and just thought he wanted to be held/carried. By this morning he couldn't stand on it and was crying that it hurt. At first I thought it was more of not wanting to go to school. Now I think he just couldn't get up out of bed to get to the bathroom in the night, and he really was hurting. We ended up taking him to InstaCare and going through exam, blood work, xrays. Turns out he has "transient synovitis" of his hip. They are not sure of the cause, but you just treat it with ibuprofen and rest and he should be ok in 3-4 days. Poor kid! So I made it just in time for my big meeting, and DH took DS home. (DH isn't leaving for his trip till tomorrow now). My marriage is just a whole other ball of wax. We have had a tough time since our son was born. We went to counseling and it helped for a while. At this point we just kind of coexist like roommates and we just work together to keep the household running. Our relationship just sucks and I am so angry and frustrated with him so much of the time. My meeting was just...unbelievable. I cannot believe the leadership of the agency I work for. It is a state position. The past year has included an extremely poorly handled HR investigation, interviews with the attorney general's office, dear friends being suspended pending termination, then being reinstated due since there was no merit to the charges. They were "reassigned" and I now supervise them, although they have supervised/mentored me for years. It has been a complete travesty. There is endless drama and politics and maneuvering. I am just so burned out and disillusioned. However, I have so much invested in my career at this point, I just cannot bear to give in to all this crap and leave. This is one of those times of life where every area of my life seems difficult and depressing. I just keep thinking, stay strong and keep going, but I am WORN OUT. So, I really appreciate all your kindness and a place to vent it out!! My goodness I sound like such a basket case! Thanks, Jen

I'm sending good thoughts and prayers your way. I hope everything turns out well for Glen and you. (((Nora)))

Good thoughts being sent your friend Beverly's way from Windsor, Ontario Canada. You are a nice friend to have YaYa. Anne