Roe... That's amazing that your son has grown past the bullying and has found a new much more positive life. And Congrats on his graduation and his adventure into the new life that college brings. I do hope that it's everything he's expecting and more. His story and it's positive outcome speaks volumes about yours and your husbands parenting. All three of you deserve a nice big pat on the back. Truely amazing.

Jan... I'm sorry that you've suffered from this particular type of hell. And the sad thing is that it represents a new chapter in the book of abuse. Child is abused therefore he is hurt. He knows no other outlet for his hurt so like a wounded animal, he lashed out at others... allowing the abuse to continue tarnishing the lives of others. And then the cycle continues. Such a sad book.

I am a survivor of both abuse and bullying. My bullying began the minute I entered school. But when I was 8 a new man came into my life and became my dad. This man taught me to stand up for myself, but that lesson backfired as you can't teach an angry child huw to fight. It only gives them the tools to hurt others. So until I reached high school, every time a bully decided that I was his next victim, I felt that it was my duty and responsibility to teach him a severe lessons that wouldn't soon be forgotten. How the tables turn. Looking back, I see that angry child as "The Punisher." And the new super hero on the block felt it necessary to punish bullies that wanted nothing to do with him. I had learned to "stand up" for myself and for others who couldn't fight back for whatever reason. This only allowed my anger to grow. In a sense I had become a menacing bully in my own way... one of the many events in my life that allowed my anger to take deep root. Interesting how the lessons taught my my new dad came back to bite him in the arse. It wasn't until I reached late junior high school that I learned that standing up for myself and others didn't mean that I had to beat the hell out of bullies. Interesting lesson.

So Roe, I can surely relate to what your son went through. Sorry for the ramble here, but I want to thank Wedna again for this post.

Ry