Thank you MaryK, Ceit, AJ, Deborah, Dianthus, Zap, Janet and Pil for your congratulations and best wishes for DS.

Shannon, I have been away and am late to this thread, but was so touched by it. Big congratulations to Iain and to you and your DH! Like some other respondants, I had some seasons of bullying in my school life, which has always made me really sensitive to the topic, but nothing like the agony your son went through. I also happened to be reading Ben Elton's novel Post Mortem, yesterday, which has bullying as its theme, which was an amazing coincidence. Am glad to hear that your son confided in you (I didn't at the time) and that he had one amazing friend. Well done on graduating!

Congratulations to your son, what fortitude and strength of spirit he has shown and what a fantastic family to be part of. I am really touched by your life story and positive attitude Shannon.

Congratulations to you dear son, Shannon, and to you as well for supporting him through such difficult times. I wish for him a future of bright possibilities and much happiness.

Shannon, I've had trouble getting online the past hours, so I din't see this until now. Your story brings tears to my eyes. I am both very sorry that your son had to go trough such terrible experiences, and very happy that he succeeded in leaving it behind. As a teacher, I've seen up close how bullying affects the victims, and I also know how difficult it is to help them.

Your son was lucky to have parents that did what they could, and his counselor who obviously made a huge difference, too. His brave and faithful friend will surely never be forgotten either. I've come to know you as a very warm and caring person, and I'm sure your love for him has made all the difference in the world to him. I strongly believe that children with a strong fundament of love and care from their parents are much more likely to succeed in school and life, and they will overcome their troubles with fewer scars. You gave him support and unconditional love. One can't ask for more than that.

Of course you are proud! I would be, too. He as accomplished this in spite of his traumatic experience - that says a lot about his strength and potential. Please accept my best wishes for him and his future.

Now I adore you EVEN more, Shannon.

Your son is as strong and wonderful as his role model Mama. xo

Shannon, your son's tale is bringing tears to my eyes. High school can be SUCH a rough time anyway - I also suffered from terrible crippling depression (though I didn't realize that is what it actually was until my early twenties) and I can't imagine adding severe bullying into the mix. Thank goodness there were people around who could recognize and help mitigate the problem. Your son sounds like an amazingly strong man and I hope it's okay to say that reading his story makes me proud of him - and you - as well.

My goodness I don't have words for how hearing about his experience makes me feel, but would you add my 'well done, young man!' to him? Having been through a year or so of depression and self-harming at about his age, I know just how dark that pit gets and how it seems to want to close in on you...

For me, the trigger was also school problems, mostly with teachers, like Suz's daughter experienced---I wasn't the best fit for a traditional schoolroom and they didn't know what to make of me, and fear/uncertainty/insecurity pushes even adults into questionable behaviour. Given that, I can't imagine adding bullying, especially with physical assault, to the mix (though had a good slice of that in the first few years of school, alongside the targetting by assorted teachers, when six---what fun school was...not!).

However, I'm for this very reason so, so glad for him that he's had great authority figures as well as good friends to count on through it. I didn't, not so much. Hence another couple of 'well done, you!' for you as the parents, Shannon, and his counsellor.

One thing to note about coming out from such experiences: It does make you stronger, truly, to survive. Another point to remember: it leaves scars--and just as with surgical scars, they are nothing to be ashamed of; but they do bear watching all your life. I hope this doesn't sound too doom-laden---not my intention at all; but life has a way of throwing up triggers that try to repeat patterns...

Hooray! I'm late to this, but I wanted to throw in my congrats to you and DS. It gets my back up that schools and even police fail to resolve physical assaults... verbal bullying is one thing, but come on. In our state, my friend spent a night in jail because her BF grabbed her during a fight and she hit him to break his hold... and yet somehow there is nothing anyone can do about physical assault on a child? Good grief.... Anyway, this is not about ranting... kudos for all your loving devotion that brought your son through a tough time. I am sure he is only starting to blossom.

I have been to this thread several times thinking what I could possibly say, but really congratulations is it. I am so proud of him and what you have done to facilitate this success. You are one truly amazing lady!

Shannon, this is so sad but what a wonderful achievement for your boy! I am sure this will make him a stronger and more wonderful person as he travels through life...

And extra hugs for you... I went through a time when once I had to give police permission to start searching for my son's body during a period of threatening self harm... it is gut wrenching but like other things, you somehow get through. They are such precious wonderful people our children and we can never take a single minute for granted... Great strength and wisdom to your family...

Sorry I'm so late getting back to this thread. You are an INCREDIBLE bunch of women - I hope you know that

Anne - yes, I will always be grateful that our son came to us and asked for help. He thought it was a sign of weakness and I told him it was an act of courage.

Kari - it is absolutely ok for you to say you are proud of him. I really REALLY appreciate that

Manidipa - not doom-laden at all. Very realistic in fact. We have talked about that very issue - how our son needs to recognize if he starts to feel those "dark thoughts" again and to make sure he gets help quickly. There is no shame at all in needing help. We referred to it as "mental health maintenance".

Jenanded - oh my word...I cannot imagine having to search for my son's body. Positively devastating. I hope your son and your family came through that difficult time. And yes...never take a single moment for granted.

Thank you all so much for your beautiful and encouraging words. And I have shared this thread with my son so that he can know how proud I am and how amazing you all are

Shannon, I congratulate your son for enduring all the bullying and still being able to graduate from high school. This shows how strong he is and what wonderful parents he has been blessed with.
I wish him all the success and happiness in his future endeavors.