Wow. The mom seems clueless. How old is your charge?

I so agree with the PP who said kids need to be allowed to vent like adults do but just have to be taught how to do it. How many of us vent about someone to our DH, friend, or online. Hell, look at this website (although mostly the general one) to see how people vent, make fun of, bitch about each other.

I bullied one kid, once. It was only once because I got caught, received detention, and had to write the girl a letter apologizing. I felt horrible and never did it again. But I bullied that girl because I was being bullied, and in my 11 year old head, picking on someone else made me feel better. So I agree just talk to her about bullying in general and ask how things are going at school. You might be shocked to find out that she's not the bully, but the one being bullied.

it's hard to say what's really going on. I agree to some extent that kids will be kids and kids process their environment differently than adults and not always insocially acceptable ways. the pimple kid inthe drawing could be a bully and your charge drew the picture in retaliation. it's hard to say. just talk to the kid about bullying in general and just try to be available emotionally...ask how school is going and things like that. I do think kids need to be allowed to vent just like adults do but need to be taught over time how to do our appropriately.

Just keep your eye out for more issues. Also have a talk with her regarding bullying in general (don't make her out to seem a bully, don't make it out to seem like she's being bullied, don't mention the drawing) just a very general talk about bullying.

I think in this situation it is better not to let your charge know that you found the picture because then she'll be sure to hide stuff from you. Now you can be aware what might be going on and keep and eye out for more things.

I recently found a drawing in my charges school backpack depicting a large person with acne. A school mates name pointed at it was drawn on it and she signed her name to it. Almost like she was going to pass it as a note during school. When I mentioned it to her mom (my boss) she laughed and said kids will be kids. I don't agree. Bullying is unacceptable to me, but since her mom has dismissed it with no consequences, what can I do? How do others deal with bullying? Thanks in advance.