Wondering if I am being over-sensitive about potential bullying for Year 7 DS?

[Theromanempire]

I feel I am being over-paranoid about my year 7 DS being bullied even though I really don't have any grounds to think that he is.

Every time something slightly odd happens to him at school, my immediate conclusion is that he is being bullied.

For example, he came home early sick last week and he didn't really seem that ill when I went to pick him up - my assumption is that he was potentially being bullied.

He has rung me today saying he was going to have a shower as he fell over in the mud on the way home - my assumption is that someone pushed him over (he says he slipped on grass but the walk home does not involve actually walking on any grass - just by the side of it - and he couldn't/wouldn't tell me which bit of grass it was).

He 'loses' his spending money - my assumption is that someone has pinched it off him.

I have absolutely no grounds to think that (no previous history making me hyper sensitive) but I think I may have the mindset that high school is awful and all the children there are mean and nasty!

I keep telling me he can talk to me or DH about it and he assures me everything is fine. He is happy and never moans about going to school - always trots off happily.

I really need to stop automatically thinking the worst don't I?

Hello,
Normal to be concerned but you are probably jumping to conclusions- especially if your ds seems generally settled and happy.
If very concerned, you could always have a discreet meeting with his tutor- sure you won't be the first anxious year 7 parent they have met.

I agree with Dinky, of course you're being protective and want to make sure he's ok. Have you met any of his friends or had opportunity to meet their parents? If you haven't done so yet, maybe arranging a bowling trip (or similar) over half term would be a good chance to meet them.
The paranoia is likely to be exacerbated by the fact that you have less oversight of secondary school life. If you know more about his friendship circles that'll also help.

Thank you for the reassurance.

As it turns out, today's 'story' was fictitious but for a totally different reason than I imagined. DS had been desperate for a poo and ran home but didn't quite make the toilet in time 🙈🙈

I guess my other issue is that he doesn't think twice about lying so it's really difficult to get to the bottom of what is actually going on which doesn't help my paranoia.

I'm normally a very rational, relaxed person so this is so unlike Me!