For a rescue inhaler that's unconscionable.

I don't get why an on-call doc wouldn't take prescription calls. Isn't that one of the reasons you call?

If you're interested, here's what happened with Shane

Franny went through something very similar at her first school. It lasted the whole time she was there. But I never thought of it as bullying in her case. I thought of it as girls trying--and failing--to negotiate their friendships, their own power, their feelings of powerlessness. And I thought of it as sometimes girls are mean girls, and that my girl was on the short end much of the time. It was heartbreaking sometimes, and she went from heartbroken to more self-defined as the years went on. But as with your Shane, she also got a lot out of the friendships and truly liked those girls. While I honestly think most of those girls were good kids who will grow into good women, I am so so glad that she has forged new friendships and left those girls behind.

It turns out the doctor did call it in, but didn't bother to have anyone call me and let me know. I'm picking up my new inhaler in an hour.

phew, sj!

Thanks everyone. Asthma attacks usually lead to anxiety attacks, which makes logical thinking go completely out the window.

But I never thought of it as bullying in her case. I thought of it as girls trying--and failing--to negotiate their friendships, their own power, their feelings of powerlessness.

I think you are right that at this age, it probably was more about learning about relationships/power than true bullying. It just hurt my heart so much to see my sweet baby's feelings so hurt. I was also shocked that this stuff starts so early!

Franny went through something very similar at her first school. It lasted the whole time she was there. But I never thought of it as bullying in her case. I thought of it as girls trying--and failing--to negotiate their friendships, their own power, their feelings of powerlessness.

Yes, this. We recently read an article at school about the overuse of the term "bully" to describe normal (though no less crappy) instances of social cruelty, and it really made me think about that term. Not that it's any easier to witness as a parent, I'm sure. Seeing kids be cruel to someone they seem the outsider for whatever reason is awful, whether bullying or just general meanness.

Aims, I'd like your address too if Em wouldn't mind one more letter. I'm so sorry she's dealing with this.

Aims, I was thinking - would it be helpful to find her books or tv or movies where people have dealt with those situations? Everything that's coming to mind may be too mature for her (Mean Girls, Heathers, Saved, Freaks and Geeks, etc.).

Just to be clear, Aims, I’m wasn’t making a judgment about Em’s situation. I was just building off of GC’s point.

Perhaps I'm being ridiculously dense, but I fail to see the meaningful distinction that many people seem to see between "kids being assholes" and "bullying."

I actually think that that's sort of representative of some of the reasons anti-bullying campaigns are so rarely effective (and they are rarely effective). No one thinks they're the one being a bully because they're not the kid from A Christmas Story.