The Bullies Have Met Their Match

Josh came home and broke down in tears this afternoon.  Groups of boys, some of them year 7, are coming to where they sit and relentlessly calling them names and carrying on.  We've been to the school before and Josh was put on what they call a safety plan but the teachers seem powerless to stop these thugs.  They tell them to leave and as soon as the teacher it out of sight they come back.  I tried to ring the school but of course it was after 3.30 and nobody answered.  The kids weren't going to school tomorrow because the swimming carnival is on but we're going up there tomorrow and talk to someone.  It has to stop, he shouldn't have to live like that.  I want to get the mums of the other boys involved, I need to find some phone numbers.  I think if we go there as a group they might listen more.  Josh and his friends don't even know these kids, I'm at a loss to know what their motivation is.  But I'm going to tell the school that he isn't coming back until something is done.  I'm not leaving it to them this time, they tried to stop it and failed.  If I have to go up there and sit in the playground myself I will.  Josh is such a good boy, he is kind and sensitive and intelligent, it breaks my heart to see him so unhappy.  Emily is tough, she gets bullied too but she wouldn't think twice about thumping someone (and she has) and the kids know it.  I am not condoning violence at all, if fact I tell the kids it isn't an answer to anything but I think there comes a time when certain people don't understand anything else.  Josh is more gentle.  It's a fine line between mother tiger protecting her cub, and letting him fight his own battles.  This time it's time for mother tiger.
Changing schools isn't the answer, it's their problem not ours.  I thought of letting Josh come home for lunch but that is letting them win also.  Running away isn't the answer.  If they have to post an extra teacher on the playground then they'll just have to do it.
We're going to Wagga tomorrow for the day and will have our own swimming carnival where nobody gets made fun of (except Daddy but he enjoys it).  I don't understand the point of sporting carnivals in high school.  It's just a day away from learning and half the kids don't go anyway.  I believe in sport and physical education, it's good for them, but if they're not athletic and Josh isn't, it's just another chance to be put down and ridiculed. 
When will the good guys win I wonder?  I got an alarming phone call from Phill the other night.  Someone had done something wrong which resulted in a runaway train so the powers that be had allegedly "deregulated" the company.  This means no trains, and no work.  Turned out later it wasn't completely true but they weren't allowed to take trains into one area where the incident happened.  But how unfair that the blokes that do the right thing, including my husband, have to penalised for the actions of a pathetic few.  He's looking for another job and hopefully one here in Coota so he won't have to commute to Junee.
Things are amazingly good between us right now, he's calmed down so much and I can see he is really making an effort, which makes me want to make an effort and everything is great.  We are laughing a lot together again, one of the things I loved about him when we first met was his sense of humour.  I almost walked and if I'd had somewhere to go last week I would have.  So easy to give up, so hard to stay and fight for what we want, but worth it in the end. 

Last night I made lamb kofta, and tabouli with parsley, mint and spring onions from our own garden.  Also made some hommus and a chilli/garlic/yoghurt sauce.  We had it with pita bread and it was great.  I made the hommus with the stab blender though, won't do that again.

Tonight I'm making lasagne for us and rissoles for Josh.  Lasagne won't be overly low fat but I have some mozarella cheese in the freezer that has to be used up. 

Emily lost the gold locket we gave her for her birthday last year.  I was heartbroken as I took a lot of time to choose it, it had a little pink rose on it (for her name) and I had E engraved on it.  She has historically been really good with any good jewellery she's been given.  I kind of blamed myself because I knew the chain needed fixing, but was still upset with her and told her she couldn't have the birthstone ring she wanted for this birthday.  Well there is something caught in the washing machine trap and we think it's the locket!  Phill has to take it apart tomorrow as we can't get it out, and if it is the locket I hope it's not damaged.  If it turns out that's what it is I still have time to order the ring for her.  It's a pretty 9ct ring with a heart shaped aquamarine.  I won't give her back her locket till her birthday (needs repairing first anyway) and will surprise her with both.  I never had good jewellery until I met Paul (first husband) and I always wanted my girls to have nice things that meant something.  I gave Ali a white gold bracelet for her 30th and Kate a yellow gold one for her 21st.

Katy says she is coming over in June and it occurred to me today that I could still throw her a belated 21st.  Do you think it's too late to do that?  Her birthday was September, but I missed out on that as well as her 18th and would love to give her a milestone party.

Off to cook rissoles for my boy.  Laced with puree brocolli and finely grated carrot.