Doody, I seem to remember bits and pieces from when his Dad posted back then too.

It brings back shocking memories for me really of when my son was 13. He'd been bullied in school for years on and off when he was younger because of his tics and because he is on Autism spectrum and because he was clever and the kids couldn't seem to be able to deal with his differences.

I was advised to withdraw him from his school the year he was 14 because he became very depressed and suicidal and quite frankly I was paying out all this money to this so-called amazing school (this was all before any anti-bullying education) and he was being treated very badly by his peers and the teachers just didn't understand. His doctors wanted him placed in residential care and given heavy duty medication and I wouldn't allow it. Found a new doctor who specialized in Asperger's Syndrome and everything changed for him after that. He was the one who advised we remove him from school. He said that for my son that going to school everyday was like going to Vietnam (his words). He used to spend every single lunch break and recess on his own in the library staying away from people who were bullying him. Anyway, long long story short, he has gone on to finish his schooling in a different way and has just been accepted into a University here to study. His most difficult times were those pre-teen years and then until he was 14. Things got better after that thank heavens.

sorry to ramble, just memories came flooding back of those dark dark days. It's awful though because having known his intentions as just a child it's something that never leaves my mind. I know that he's had suicidal thoughts and they were really shocking and I hope that he never has them like that again. It was as if he was wanting to kill off his 'differences' so he could just blend in with his peers. Not an uncommon thought I'm sure. I've felt the same way when I'm down myself. However, with maturity he's certainly changed and doesn't have to deal with all that anymore, certainly not as intensely anyway.

Quite frankly, I think that my son still carries the scars of the bullying with him. I see it in some of the things he says and does from time to time.
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I found another website that Ryan's Dad has set up and on it he says at the end...

"Please never forget Ryan's story and the fragility of adolescence."
http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/