He had spent the last three weeks getting into trouble at home, talking disrespectfully to her, fighting with his older brother and teasing his younger brother.
He was a very good student at school, but a few incidents had her questioning his behaviour and attitude to his school work and some of his teachers.
Nearly every night he was up, waking her up with "bad" dreams, sleepwalking or calling out to her with minor reasons ("I need to go to the toilet") and obvious reasons ("I can't see") in the night.
It came to a head one weekend when all she could do was keep him home from his football game and try and get to the core of the problems her son was facing.
My wife then told me my son was being bullied.
We haven't totally dealt with the issue as yet, but helping your own son deal with these problems at school, even as teachers, can be a slow process.
My wife and I often talk to our boys about that "gut feeling" parents often get as being the Holy Spirit.
We tell our boys we strive to be on God's side and He lets us know when they need us, when they are lying and when they are hurting.
Parents, trust your "gut feelings".
Parents, be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you.
Parents, what is the Holy Spirit telling you about your children?
Russell Modlin teaches English and Physical Education at a Christian School on the Sunshine Coast. He is married to Belinda and they have three children.
Russell Modlin's archive of previous article can be found at www.pressserviceinternational.org/russell-modlin.html