"Getting Pantsed!!!"

Yesterday, my son came home from middle school rather irritated. He told me that during recess (he's in sixth grade) they were called in early and the teachers were very emphatic they get in the building immediately. My poor son didn't know what to think or what could possibly be happening. I think it scared him. Although, he said he wasn't a part of it. He said that he saw around 16 other students coming out of the woods as he was going back in. Once he was back in class - an administrator told the class what had happened.

Apparently, a group of kids were in the woods practicing the "Art of Pantsing" which at first I knew what he meant but wanted to hear what he thought it was. If I recall "getting pantsed" in my school days was when the rotten kids picked on a weakly, disliked child and made him drop trow in the woods in front of 5 - 10 kids. I called the school this morning because last night Kyle kept asking not to go to school today and again this morning asked his father right before the bus came again to let him stay home, He told his dad he would "be glad when the day was over".

After speaking to his Guidance Counselor this morning it was brought to my attention that if his class was spoken to - then that meant kids in his class were in on it. So...my suspicions were right. Kyle must have been secretly worried it just might happen to him. Kyle is a good kid and although not some weakly little scaredy-cat, just like any other kid DOESN'T WANT HIS PANTS FORCED OFF OF HIM!!! This just appalls me to no end!!! I have done my best to warn him of the everything I could think of that can happen in school that is bad - this slipped my mind!

After years of and decades of kids and their bullying and horrible, embarrassing pranks and threats. You would think that parents our age would teach their children that this is wrong!! So very wrong, no matter what type it is!! I have always taught mine not to pick on others. It is not funny nor is it any less humiliating then being called names and picked on. I guess forever lives on the bullies.
I feel so sorry for kids that have to deal with this. I understand about life's lessons but why does the price paid have to be some child/children hurting another...(sigh) "I'll be glad when today is over and he's back home again".

"Dear Sons',

today is Mother''s Day". I feel so proud that you are all my sons. The day each of you were born was a momentous, defining day in my life. It's a day a mother never forgets. You were all beautiful babies with bright eyes and heads full of soft, sweet smelling hair. The way I felt holding you for the first time is indescribable. I just knew how much you needed me and I savored it. I watched you grow, saw every first step, heard every first word.I wiped away tears threefold through the years. All of you grew at your own pace in your own time. When one seemed to be growing faster, I'd turn around and find that the other was catching up. You were always in sync despite the age differences. Then, I was given two more special boys to call "Son". Another defining day in my life, only they were still adolescent so I didn't ever see them as babies but I was given the chance to meld them into what is now our family. Yes, it hasn't been all puff and glory but what family doesn't have troubling times? I've watched four of you grow into strong young men.
Now that four of you are grown and gone and Kyle is still growing-up, I can see a little bit of each of you in him. Kyle has Branden's silly, sweet smile, Eric's almond-shaped eyes and protective way, Kristopher's impulsiveness, and David's loving but quiet way. I want to thank all of you because if I didn't have you guys, then I wouldn't be a mom and today would just be another Sunday for me. All of you hold my heart in your hands and I can't think of a safer place I'd want my heart to be.
Love,
Mom