My 14 year old son started high school this year. All was fine until this week when I sensed something was wrong. After lots of questions, he finally told me that it's a senior boy that wants to kick his butt.

He won't tell me what the planned fight is about, but I know he has a smart mouth that gets him in trouble. I also know that he is much taller & tougher than the other boys his age. Maybe the 17 year old wants to fight him to make himself look tough. Maybe my son did something that gives him a valid reason. Either way…I don't approve of fighting and the schools have this zero tolerance policy. A fight could mean being expelled or having to go to court. That’s all I need!!

The boy lives in our neighborhood and rides the same bus. I can’t pick up my son from school because I have to work. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to fix it without making it bigger??? I’m at a total loss & it breaks my heart to see my kids unhappy.

Call the principal and thell them your son is being harrassed by an older student. They probably have a zero tolerance policy on that too.

Just get the school involved. You may also want to have them alert the bus driver that there is animosity between the boys so that nothing starts on the bus and everyone is kept abreast of the situation. Your son may get some flack from it, but in the long run, it is better than what lies around the bend should a fight commence.

Excellent advice! I'd also try to speak with the boy's parents. If this boy knows there will be consequences not only at school but at home as well, he might back down. Worth a try I guess.

Go with the above but unless you already have a relationship with the other boys parents, be quiet. He didn't lick it off the stones!

My son was involved in a similar situation in June at school, except there was a knife involved with death threats to my son. The school got involved and spoke to the two boys, called a meeting and made it really clear the consequences of what would happen. So far this year, there has been no new issues. I think the school did a good job at handling the situation overall and so I will second what everyone said above. It might be a good idea to go to the school boards website and download a copy of their policies and procedures on violence in schools to ensure that teh schools are doing what they should be doing.