School’s Out For Ever

June 14, 2010
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My only out-of-home schooled child, D, finished his preschool career on Friday.


And though I am more than happy to give up the expense, the mornings rushing to get out of the house on time, and the unpleasantness of hearing that my son had taught the entire class to say boobies, I was still very, very choked up about this milestone.


This past school year, he often told me he just wanted to stay home, but now that it’s over, he doesn’t want it to end. When will I see my friends? he asks about the pack of boys who adopted him into their ranks though he started school two months later than everyone else.

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Thankfully, I can give him a satisfactory answer: tomorrow. One boy from class has a birthday party scheduled.

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But, when will I see Miss Paula/Sarah/Cathy? is harder to answer. I know he can’t wait to be homeschooled for kindergarten like his two older sisters were, but there was something beautiful and sweet about seeing other teachers love my little guy so much.


Congratulations my sweet boy. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all.

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Filed Under: Fairly Odd Kids, Homeschooling 10 Comments

When a child won’t, or can’t, eat

June 7, 2010

I’ve been tested as a parent many times before, and I expect I will be tested many, many more times. But, this weekend ranks up there as one of the toughest.

One of my children has stopped eating. I will not reveal which one this is, nor will I talk of gender, so please excuse the liberal use of “they/them”.


There were signs leading up to this crisis but things came to a head on Thursday when very little was eaten and it was obvious this wasn’t going away soon. On Friday, I took this child to the doctor for a full exam in the hopes that this could be fixed with a pill or shot or instructions to rest and take it easy. Don’t worry, it’s a stomach bug would have been music to my ears.


Instead, I was told that this was likely anxiety based—a fear of eating caused by one traumatic incident involving public vomiting. Not entirely uncommon according to this doctor and Dr. Google, and with a high cure rate, though drastic measures are sometimes needed if too much weight is lost.


In the meantime, I was sent home from the doctors with instructions that we should just try to help our non-eater work through their fear without shame or punishment.


Oh, and don’t let them lose more than 5 pounds.


There were glimmers of hope this weekend. Food was eaten. There were smiles and laughter and running around the yard. But all too often, there was a stomach clutched, tears in the eyes, mommy, help me, I want to eat but I can’t. I’m so hungry.


Is there anything worse for a parent than to watch their child suffer and not know how to fix it?


This morning, even though I am pretty certain the doctor is right in his diagnosis, we ran every test possible to make sure there is no medical reason for this pain and agony. The doctor agreed that if we tested for everything, and they all came back negative, perhaps this child would realize this is something they need to overcome themselves.


One call with test results has already come back: Negative.


Shit.


I mean, phew!


But, shit, if there is no medical reason for this, if this is all a fear of eating! I will be charting unknown waters, just when I was feeling like I was getting a hang of this parenting thing.


Wish us luck.

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Filed Under: Fairly Odd Kids, Health n Food Talk 34 Comments

Loverboy

May 11, 2010

She was attractive, I’ll give him that. A little too old for him, but blond, friendly and talkative.

As she showed me around the showroom, picking up kitchen cabinet doors for me to examine, he eyed her from afar, biding his time.

And then, we rounded a corner, and he came face to face with her.

I love you, he breathed and then turned to retreat.

Do you mean me? I asked him before he ran, confused at his sudden outburst of affection for someone he had just met a minute ago.

No. Her. He made it clear to us both.

And with that, my five-year-old became a ladies’ man. He’ll need to work on his delivery a bit, I think.

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Filed Under: Fairly Odd Kids 6 Comments
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