My 5th grader stayed home today... mainly it was my fault, just felt exhausted and gave the alarm clock the middle finger this morning.
I just can't do it everyday... so many "fires" to put out, one thing after the other. So some days I just can't pull off school and work and need rest.

I know it's important for him to get to school and have good attendance. Working on it... but this isn't mainly about attendance.

So my son talked to some friends on the phone tonight. Told him that a group of boys were making fun of him, saying he stayed home cuz he's so fat and doesn't want to run the mile. Our school takes pride in calling itself "the jogging school" ... holy cow ... not everyone is a runner. He's athletic in fun sports like volleyball, football, soccer, basketball, kickball. But he does despise running. I was the same way, I would do it cuz I was in sports, but it's a bore for me.

Additionally, the teacher joined in. My son's friend told him, even the teacher sarcastically joined in and said, "Of course he's absent today, he's always absent on the mile day!"

I'm appalled --- in my opinion the teacher joined in on bullying and making fun of my son. This is the same teacher who had my son suspended and wanted to charge him with sexual harrassment for allegedly calling a girl in class a b-word.

I'm fuming mad and called my gf who is a 5th grade teacher, asked her if she would ever say something like that about a child, or allow other kids to... She said yes she would. She works at a different school but says she's annoyed at how the "bigger" kids avoid the mile and that everyone has to run and it's a 5th grade state requirement. She said that parents even get mad at her that she takes too tough a tone with the kids, but she feels it's in the kids' best interest.

Teacher friend does agree with me that a sexual harrassment charge and suspension are absurd and unbelievable.

I think it's horrible. I think it's bullying. There has to be a better way to help a kid, a heavy kid, if they think he's avoiding running. He also gets made fun of for being in special ed cuz he has a bit of a speech impediment and a visual processing disability. He has an IEP and I plan to first talk to the special ed teacher on Monday for advice.

Am I overreacting? Am I going to make things even worse for him in class with this teacher if I make a stink about it.

Teacher friend says tell son not to let what other people say about him bother him..."Who cares what other people think" ... Easy for her - she's sooo perfect - the hot petite blonde who is gregarious and has every man in town chasing her, an ex husband who pays child support, both parents alive, a huge fun extended family. She has no clue about having depression or anxiety or bp or a weight problem. I've tried to explain these things to her and she doesn't want to hear it.

Why is it ok for these people to become teachers. I feel this has to be addressed with the school. My son and all the other bullied kids out there need us adults speaking up for them.

But sanity check please - is this me overreacting, my rage button pushed, the crazy lady of the picture perfect bs town??