Some say it's a part of growing up, though others see it as a big problem.

Bullying can start with something simple, like name calling or teasing. But it can quickly escalate to something more.

"Parents really need to be involved," says Kevin Epling.

He and his wife, Tammy, started asking their son, Matt, questions nearly six years ago after Matt was assaulted by classmates.

On the last day of school in June of 2002, Matt was at home when he heard the doorbell ring. He answered the door, recognized a friend and went with that friend for a walk down the street. It's what happened next, just a few hundred yards away from the Epling home, that changed their lives forever.

"Little did Matt know, he and a friend were around the corner and were kind of waiting behind a parked car. The smashed eggs and poured syrup on him and said 'welcome to high school," Kevin said.

It was a hazing incident, a form of bullying...and Matt was left humiliated. Forty days after that attack, Matt took his own life. He was just 14 years old.

"There was some unknown catalyst that caught us off guard and I think that's what all parents need to be aware of."

Kevin is now fighting back, hoping to make a difference. He travels the country talking about the importance of stopping bullies in schools. He's not the only one taking that approach.

"We hope together we can be more proactive and curb this problem," said Nancy Hipskind. She's the Superintendent of Charlotte Schools, a district that has seen it's share of bully-related problems this year.

"We saw some things happening that we weren't comfortable with."

So they called in an expert.

Mark Boynton is hoping to attack the problem by educating parents, students, and teachers. He says bullying may be on the rise because more parents are working than in years past.

"Much of it has to do with a lack of supervision at home," he said.

But it doesn't have to be that way, he says. Nearly 200-thousand kids skip school everyday because they're being bullied. Boynton says the solution starts with parents.

"It does no good to hide our heads in the sand."

He recommends talking to kids. Know who they hang out with and where....and when they get home form school ask about the highs and lows of their day.

"Kids won't bring it up unless the parents open the door for that."

But it can't solely lie on the shoulders of parents. Teachers, and administrators need to be aware too...Especially in hallways and playgrounds where most bullying takes place.

"It really takes all of us to solve this problem because not any one of us can do this on our own," Hipskind says.

That's why Kevin Epling is hoping Matt's death will be a wake up call to those who don't believe bullying is a problem.

"We kind of are holding his memory everywhere we go. He gives us that strength to keep us moving on."

The strength to end a trend that took his son's life.