((((((((zilw and son)))))

How heartbreaking all this is. Kids are notoriously mean to each other. Sounds like your son is indeed a target, but because these other kids are jealous. It's part of growing up to learn how to deal with this kind of behavior, but he is staying strong and will get through it.

We put my son in a small, private school for 8th-10th grade and he was eventually shunned, partly because we live in very modest home and word got around we are "poor". Even the parents made comments to my daughter (everyone, and I mean everyone was wealthy except the few on scholarship). Though he tried hard at sports, the one he is good at wasn't offered there. So no luck.

We are very concerned about his self esteem, and he agreed to go to a therapist. This has helped markedly. She has helped him recover, and they are working on coping skills, though he still has a hard time making friends with boys. We moved him to a bigger public school and the diversity there helped alot, too.

I don't think he'll ever be a "man's man" but he is more comfortable in his own skin.