Chaplin, Chaplin, Chaplin......what a character, or should I say which character and when? He is my boy that can entertain anyone....always has that little sparkle in eye...but that sparkle seems to be fluctuating between a sparkler and a missile.
Over the past few years we have noticed he has an increasingly harder time focusing and also retaining emotional control in even certain minor situations. It's not constant, but it is frequent. I think there are many factors contributing to this, including: he's a boy, he's 10, and he's the middle boy always striving for 'perfection' that he sees in his older brother.
That being said, our functioning level at home has been decreasing. SO, we felt seeking help from a professional was a good step. Before the first visit with the child psychologist, I tried my best to explain t Chaplin what this doctor does. He just looked at me with his eyebrow raised and said, 'Seriously, Mom. You're taking me to anger management?' (I couldn't help but laugh inside)
The doctor did a full evaluation on Chaplin, including psychological, learning, cognitive, etc. It was 4.5 hours long for him plus a questionnaire for me that had about 500 questions on it!!!! Chaplin did well, though.....The doctor gave out prizes, so he was happy. :) While we wait on those results, I continue to focus on the following verse in my mind when interacting with Chaplin.:
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
It is SO easy to just yell at misbehavior that is so frustrating. But that doesn't do anyone any good...it does harm... I think I've been doing better. We go back to the doctor for the evaluation results next week....stay tuned!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Prepubescent Polen Posse update #2 - Boy Wonder
Boy Wonder is my strong leader....able to leap big hurdles with ease....until now. He's always been very good at internalizing everything around him....thinking about and processing it before spitting anything out. He's more particular about those to whom he talks, which usually means he has deeper friendships than his brothers. It also means it's not as easy for him to walk into a room full of strangers and just start talking to people.
Gym has been a bright spot. He immediately got settled into Texas gymnastics, and seems to be surrounded by leaders concerned about him as a young man, not only as an athlete. For that I am very thankful. Going to gym is never a struggle. We live so close, he even rides his bike, weather permitting. He is definitely happy when he is active!
But elsewhere.......getting him to engage personally with anyone is close to impossible. (Scouts, home-school group, youth group) He used to look forward to Boy Scouts. I now have to pull him to go. He won't tie up any loose ends on any of his Scout work. He says it is boring to him now. He also talks of just not wanting to talk to new people - it's just too hard.
Church doesn't seem to be much different. While he enjoys going on Sundays, he has no real opportunity to meet others his age. There's no programming for youth on Sundays, so he goes in to worship with us. They have an active youth group on Wednesdays, but again....big crowd of new people is proving to be too much...or so he says.
So for now, myself and Mr. Nibbles will remain his best buddies. I may be stressed and worrying a lot about this, but at least he's talking. He expresses his feelings as best he can, and I'm trying hard not to be a nagging mom. :)
Gym has been a bright spot. He immediately got settled into Texas gymnastics, and seems to be surrounded by leaders concerned about him as a young man, not only as an athlete. For that I am very thankful. Going to gym is never a struggle. We live so close, he even rides his bike, weather permitting. He is definitely happy when he is active!
But elsewhere.......getting him to engage personally with anyone is close to impossible. (Scouts, home-school group, youth group) He used to look forward to Boy Scouts. I now have to pull him to go. He won't tie up any loose ends on any of his Scout work. He says it is boring to him now. He also talks of just not wanting to talk to new people - it's just too hard.
Church doesn't seem to be much different. While he enjoys going on Sundays, he has no real opportunity to meet others his age. There's no programming for youth on Sundays, so he goes in to worship with us. They have an active youth group on Wednesdays, but again....big crowd of new people is proving to be too much...or so he says.
So for now, myself and Mr. Nibbles will remain his best buddies. I may be stressed and worrying a lot about this, but at least he's talking. He expresses his feelings as best he can, and I'm trying hard not to be a nagging mom. :)
Prepubescent Polen Posse update #1 - Einstein
I won't say this move has been easy on any of us. (moves are rarely simple though, huh?) I decided to start writing about this roller coaster journey for each of the boys - as their rides have individually been surprising.
My dear Einstein was ecstatic at the move and to finally have his own room again - even if it did have flowers painted on one wall. (though he now says he does not mind them!). He struggled sleeping alone for the few week or so, but his animal friends were soon sufficient company at night.
As he is my note writer, he frequently finds notes he and friend from DC had written to one another. His little eyes begin to well with tears about missing his friends. I try to keep reminding him that God will even use our sadness for good if we let Him. There are great opportunities here in TX, we just have to be open to them...he's still sad. At the beginning of September we started a new home-school group, and he seems to be enjoying his classes: drawing, Explorers, and Zoology. New acquaintances are being made in class and playing games outside. He and Chaplin have also started a 'D-Group' at church on Wednesdays (Discipleship group). I am thankful they are eager to go and learn more about God....and play games. :)
My dear Einstein was ecstatic at the move and to finally have his own room again - even if it did have flowers painted on one wall. (though he now says he does not mind them!). He struggled sleeping alone for the few week or so, but his animal friends were soon sufficient company at night.
As he is my note writer, he frequently finds notes he and friend from DC had written to one another. His little eyes begin to well with tears about missing his friends. I try to keep reminding him that God will even use our sadness for good if we let Him. There are great opportunities here in TX, we just have to be open to them...he's still sad. At the beginning of September we started a new home-school group, and he seems to be enjoying his classes: drawing, Explorers, and Zoology. New acquaintances are being made in class and playing games outside. He and Chaplin have also started a 'D-Group' at church on Wednesdays (Discipleship group). I am thankful they are eager to go and learn more about God....and play games. :)
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