As of this week, the boy doesn't go to his school anymore. The mother had to take extreme measures, she says, to protect her son.
"We moved out here because of the schools," the boy's mother said, who wants to remain anonymous.
And two years ago, it seemed like the best decision, to move from inner city Houston to Katy where her son would attend Cy-Fair ISD's Thornton Middle School. Now he's no longer there. In fact, his room is almost empty and for his safety, he doesn't even live with his family anymore.
"It's very hard," she said.
But this mother says it's what she had to do, which is move the eighth grader to his grandmother's so he can go to a new school and leave the bullying by Thornton students, she say, behind.
"They held his arm down in a class and burned it with hot glue gun," the mother said. "He has been held down and had genitals put in his face."
But nothing compares to what happened two weeks ago. She says the day after a boy recommended her son commit suicide.
"And it would be cool if he did it in front of everybody," the mother said.
In the middle of class, she says, he tried.
"He took a bungee cord that he had on his backpack and wrapped it around his neck and yanked it as tight as it would go with a knot and he was going to suffocate himself," she said.
Instead, a teacher intervened.
Cy-Fair ISD says it cannot comment specifically on any student, but in general if a parent reports bullying to the district, an investigation begins and students are disciplined if allegations are confirmed.
This mother says she has initiated an investigation but plans on getting an attorney.
"You need to put pressure up against the students," she said.
She also thinks she missed some warning signs.
"When you see them get mad, or you see them get angry, there's more," she said.
Watching for behavioral changes and communication is key, said Alejandra Posada with Mental Health America of Greater Houston.
"Doing as much as they can to remain non-judgmental, and really show your child that they are open," Posada said.
And this mother's message to other parents is to stay connected.
"I hope that families talk to their children more and understand, see what's going on," she said.
That mother hopes to get restraining orders against the five students she says have been harassing her son.
The boy is now getting counseling and has moved to a new school, which he says he really likes.
Mental Health America of Greater Houston offers information and referral help line for parents and teens
Low cost and no cost counseling available
713-522-5161
Crisis Intervention of Houston offers a 24 hour hotline for youth of all ages
713-529-TEEN (8336)
Teen Text: text TEEN to 78247
