My 8 yr old is having a lot of trouble with these 2 brats a couple years older than him that live in our neighbor hood. It started with just name calling and swearing (really horrible things for kids this young. some of it racist) which we could deal with... but now its to the point where he can't go to the park or anywhere else in the area because these kids will show up and chase him until they catch him if there aren't other bigger kids in the vicinity to intervene. It has gotten physical a couple times. Couple days ago someone spray painted "A$$hole" across my fence and i'm pretty sure it was these 2 (can't prove it). I don't know anyone else who would do that and that seems to be one of their favorite names for my son. My son's only safe when he's at home or a friends house... but he's a very active little boy who loves his bike and skateboard and hates to be inside.

I've talked to both of these boys parents. One doesn't want to hear anything I have to say about his precious little demon spawn and has been extremely rude and vulgar. I know where the kid gets it from now. The other one would at least talk to me and said she'd talk to her kid about it, but I get the feeling that she thinks my son is lying or her sons behavior is being exaggerated. I KNOW this is not the case. I've caught this kid red handed trying to get his hands on my son as well as I've talked to other kids and teens in the area that have all verified what my son has been telling me as well as a few other things I was previously unaware of and shocked to find out. And my son is not the only one these kids pick on, but he seems to get the worst of it. Either way... the bullying isn't stopping and I'm frustrated because I don't know what else to do. He doesn't have a ton of friends who can back him up against these two and I cant be there all the time with my son and he'd be horrified if I chaperoned him around the neighborhood. Thankfully they don't go to the same school.

I'm trying to convince my son to take martial arts of some kind but he seems to shy to try it. any tips on breaking his shyness? Would it be wrong for me to tell him to go ahead beat the crap out of them (if they start it)? I don't condone violence, but I feel like a good dose of their own medicine may be only solution since their parents won't do anything.