closet_blogger (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} closet_blogger) wrote,@ 2005-12-15 10:28:00 |
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Tests are in...
And all the results are normal. Phew!
But, hey? So what's going on?? He's still complaining about his symptoms...
Well, the doc decided to send him for a sinus X-RAY, and a chest X-RAY yesterday, but he said he thinks they'll come back normal and it will be a case of, "everything's fine...have a nice life." I asked if he thought an MRI was warranted. He said it did cross his mind, but after listening to my son--let's call him N--describe his symptoms, he doesn't see any reason to do an MRI. He mentioned that some of the symptoms might be psychosomatic, which is interesting because I was just about to ask him if he thinks stress could be a factor.
I've always known N was sort of uptight and high-strung. But lately, things have been coming to my attention that make me think the poor kid is completely stressing himself out and is possibly on the verge(if not already past the point) of burnout. He's got a teacher, let's call him Mr. Tough, who has a reputation for pushing the kids relentlessly to reach their highest potential and to take life and learning super-seriously. Many of my friends complain about how strict and how tough Mr. Tough is, how much homework he gives, and how incredibly high his expectations are. Well, this very same Mr. Tough called me last week to tell me that N is too much of a perfectionist and takes his studies too seriously. He said, "This kid really needs to chill!" He took N out of the classroom a couple of times this week to talk to him. He even suggested that N try to sleep with a noise machine (you know, rain falling, ocean waves, etc.) to help him relax and he offered to lend him one to see if he likes it. N said no thanks. But whoa! After talking to Mr. Tough and to N, I realized that N needs more playtime, more relaxation time.
I cancelled his speech therapy, because I know he hates it. So he'll say wabbit instead of rabbit, I guess. What can we do? It's weally not wouth having a newvous bweakdown ovew, is it? I let him drop out of his swimming lessons, because lately he hates that, too. And Mr Tough even said that N should only do 15 minutes of homework a night--a real 15 minutes--set the timer and when it dings, he's done-whether he's done or not. Mr. Tough asked N if he'd like to speak to the school social worker, but N declined. He doesn't know her and doesn't want to talk to a stranger.
N wants to succeed in a major way. And he usually does. He's a straight A student and he always does his homework, gets 100 on all his tests...he just excels. He's in a french-immersion school (well, kind of...they speak more English than they're supposed to, but officially, it's french-immersion). This is his first year there. Most of the other kids have been there since Kindergarten. N has already caught up to most of the kids in his class, and is doing better than kids who speak French at home. N had never heard a word of french before September and he's at the top of his class, a drop behind the strongest student--who happens to be from a French-speaking home.
Last night, I met with N's french teacher. He told me a funny story about N. One day, the class was behaving so badly that the teacher spent the whole time disciplining. He didn't end up teaching anything at all that day because of it. N was NOT one of the troublemaking children and when that period was over, N passed a note of complaint to the teacher: "We didn't learn anything today!"
That's N. Instead of sitting back and enjoying the show (the class going wild and making all sorts of trouble), he was frustrated and upset that he didn't learn anything.
N is proud of his perfectionism. I don't see any sign of him even wanting to change that. He really does need to learn to chill. You see, he used to be happy. High-strung, but still happy. These days, he doesn't seem happy anymore, just high-strung. This is what Mr. Tough pointed out to me and think he's got a point. So, I'm seriously thinking that all of his physical symptoms stem from stress. Sad for a such a sweet, little 8 year-old kid. But it's better than any of the physical illnesses or possibilities that I was wondering about last week...Now, I just have to figure out a way to help him learn to CHILL and see if that eases his symptoms. Easier said than done.
And all the results are normal. Phew!
But, hey? So what's going on?? He's still complaining about his symptoms...
Well, the doc decided to send him for a sinus X-RAY, and a chest X-RAY yesterday, but he said he thinks they'll come back normal and it will be a case of, "everything's fine...have a nice life." I asked if he thought an MRI was warranted. He said it did cross his mind, but after listening to my son--let's call him N--describe his symptoms, he doesn't see any reason to do an MRI. He mentioned that some of the symptoms might be psychosomatic, which is interesting because I was just about to ask him if he thinks stress could be a factor.
I've always known N was sort of uptight and high-strung. But lately, things have been coming to my attention that make me think the poor kid is completely stressing himself out and is possibly on the verge(if not already past the point) of burnout. He's got a teacher, let's call him Mr. Tough, who has a reputation for pushing the kids relentlessly to reach their highest potential and to take life and learning super-seriously. Many of my friends complain about how strict and how tough Mr. Tough is, how much homework he gives, and how incredibly high his expectations are. Well, this very same Mr. Tough called me last week to tell me that N is too much of a perfectionist and takes his studies too seriously. He said, "This kid really needs to chill!" He took N out of the classroom a couple of times this week to talk to him. He even suggested that N try to sleep with a noise machine (you know, rain falling, ocean waves, etc.) to help him relax and he offered to lend him one to see if he likes it. N said no thanks. But whoa! After talking to Mr. Tough and to N, I realized that N needs more playtime, more relaxation time.
I cancelled his speech therapy, because I know he hates it. So he'll say wabbit instead of rabbit, I guess. What can we do? It's weally not wouth having a newvous bweakdown ovew, is it? I let him drop out of his swimming lessons, because lately he hates that, too. And Mr Tough even said that N should only do 15 minutes of homework a night--a real 15 minutes--set the timer and when it dings, he's done-whether he's done or not. Mr. Tough asked N if he'd like to speak to the school social worker, but N declined. He doesn't know her and doesn't want to talk to a stranger.
N wants to succeed in a major way. And he usually does. He's a straight A student and he always does his homework, gets 100 on all his tests...he just excels. He's in a french-immersion school (well, kind of...they speak more English than they're supposed to, but officially, it's french-immersion). This is his first year there. Most of the other kids have been there since Kindergarten. N has already caught up to most of the kids in his class, and is doing better than kids who speak French at home. N had never heard a word of french before September and he's at the top of his class, a drop behind the strongest student--who happens to be from a French-speaking home.
Last night, I met with N's french teacher. He told me a funny story about N. One day, the class was behaving so badly that the teacher spent the whole time disciplining. He didn't end up teaching anything at all that day because of it. N was NOT one of the troublemaking children and when that period was over, N passed a note of complaint to the teacher: "We didn't learn anything today!"
That's N. Instead of sitting back and enjoying the show (the class going wild and making all sorts of trouble), he was frustrated and upset that he didn't learn anything.
N is proud of his perfectionism. I don't see any sign of him even wanting to change that. He really does need to learn to chill. You see, he used to be happy. High-strung, but still happy. These days, he doesn't seem happy anymore, just high-strung. This is what Mr. Tough pointed out to me and think he's got a point. So, I'm seriously thinking that all of his physical symptoms stem from stress. Sad for a such a sweet, little 8 year-old kid. But it's better than any of the physical illnesses or possibilities that I was wondering about last week...Now, I just have to figure out a way to help him learn to CHILL and see if that eases his symptoms. Easier said than done.
