Gah! DS in year 10 came home from hanging out with friends in the park and told us that one of the lads he was with has stolen his hoody, an expensive one he saved up for and bought yesterday. This lad asked to try it on then refused to give it back and said he'd pay DS for it next week. DS tried to take it back and the lad got a bit pushy so DS backed off and the lad 'promised' to pay him for it. Basically he got mugged by someone he thought was kind of a friend. DS has come home furious, embarrassed and super stressed. He doesnt want to be labelled a snitch by getting us involved, and he feels like he has no leverage and will lose face if the lad doesn't pay him back. And it was his hoody, he loved it and wants it back. Of course we've told him that bullies prey on those kind of fears and we can support him however he needs to stand up for himself. Why are teenagers such dicks sometimes? Who takes clothes off someone, what a fucking nasty shitty thing to do. I want to go round to his house and give him a clip round the ear but a. I don't know where he lives and b. DS says that would guarantee social death at school. Arrrghhh!
Anyone had success helping their teen stand up to a 'mate' being a bully?