He's one of the smallest kids in his school. An endocrinologist has told us that his body is about 3 years behind on growth. As all of you know, being small does make a person a target. Even right here on CB we see signs of it being acceptable to belittle or demean someone over height. We act that way and pass our viewpoint on to our own children. It's funny and whatever, but that's how it goes.
Ha ha. You're short. Why even bother living? ha ha ha.
It's such a knee-slapper.

But my son is a popular little kid with lots of friends. Some of the bigger 7th graders are his best friends. His friends give him some friendly teasing sometimes, but it doesn't bother him. If anyone messed with him, they'd take care of it.

It's not that.

We hoped it was the onset of puberty messing with him, but his doctor assures us that it's highly unlikely.
We were also told by the school counselor that our son's plight, unfortunately, has become very common. She estimated that about a third of the school student body has the same trouble this year.