What else can I do in this situation

[LavaLamp5566]

My OH has two sons aged 11 and 9. Lovely boys, neither of them would harm a fly. {Due to recent things going on with their Mum they live with my OH and me.} Cheekiest thing either boy has done was answer the door to JW's and told them that we give blood - Made for a very entertaining afternoon

I collected the boys from school yesterday, and 9 year old was quite quiet, didn't want to talk about his day which was not usual for him - He loves to talk, even if it's just to tell me and his Dad that he loves us. But just before bedtime he came in and tearfully told me he was being teased at school, it's been going on for a while but didn't want to tell us in case we didn't believe him. I feel awful and so heartbroken that he feels this way

I've reassured him many times he can always tell me what he thinks and feels. OH is going into school on Monday to sort it all out.

I don't know what else I can do to make him feel better. I let him stay off school today for a bit of a fuss. {He NEVER stays off school. Not even if he has a cold} I'm thinking a weekend of fun

So to all the parents out there who have dealt with bullying - What else can I do to cheer him up?

You sound like you have a lovely family, I wouldn’t of let him have the day off because it will be that much harder for him to go in on Monday, it’s tempting to treat him and spoil him but in my opinion it’s making his situation into a big deal. Rather than buying him anything spend the weekend taking his mind off the teasing and try and get his endorphins going with some exercise, a lovely family walk or a bike ride with a pub lunch at the end.
Reassure him you will sort it on Monday , I hope he feels better soon and the teasing stops.

Don't bet on school sorting it out. My DD's school was completely shocking and we had to move her mid term in the end - she was being hit, tripped up, pushed over, rugby tackled to the ground, told she was fat, told she was ugly, whispered at in class, it goes on and on and on. We marched in numerous times to see heads, heads of year, class teachers, nobody did anything and it wasn't taken seriously. My advice would be to get hold of the school's anti bullying policy immediately and review it and make sure it is being followed. Also look online for advice - there are lots of anti bullying websites with lots of helpful advice and support and ideas on how to deal with things. You have to be prepared for the long haul here. Hopefully it won't come to that but in my experience you have to be proactive and keep the pressure up on the school. Bullying corrodes the soul so you have to do whatever you can to boost his confidence and his belief in himself - does he play a sport or have a hobby or can you do an activity together as a family - something like an escape room maybe? And it's not just this weekend, it may take weeks to sort this out. And keep talking to him and letting him know you have his back and you are there for him to help him and you love him and what a great person he is. If he can't tell you directly he could try writing it down - a daily diary of what is actually happening can be really helpful and less stressful for him than telling you himself. Good luck.