To all parent students: Are your kids making things hard or are they little angels?

catzy5 · Dec 9, 2006

I must admit, I have an She is 15 and has never had an attitude of any kind with me. I am a very lucky mom. She is proud of what I am doing, and I think it does her good to see me studying my butt off too.

you are very lucky indeed! I have a duaghter too who for the moment is an angel always has been I keep waiting for her to "turn" maybe there is hope she won't she is only 9 but has always been the greatest girl.

lisabeth · Dec 9, 2006

I am sorry you are having it hard. I am sure he will grow out of it. I bet he misses his dad and just needs attention. Maybe try to give the little guy a hug. That might be just what he needs. He seems like a good kid from what you have said in posts. Keep doing the good job you are doing.

My 8 year old causes me a lot of stress. I am wondering how I can ever get to nursing school, let alone succeed if things don't get any better with him. He needs so much of my attention. I dont have any help from family, all live too far away and my husband is always gone and barely makes it home for a 24 hr visit each weekend. I guess I am venting today because I just had a rough day with him again, I have a test tomorrow and final Monday.
How is everyone coping with difficult children...mine definitely fits into that category and I feel that I have reached my threshold of tolerance.
He's been to doctors, psychologist, I just had a teacher conference and talked to school counselor....nothing seems to be of help.
"Calgon, take me away!"

lisabeth · Dec 9, 2006

She sounds just like mine. I dont know what I did to deserve her because I was NOT that way. I had plenty of attitude. I thought the world revolved around me. :lol2:

you are very lucky indeed! I have a duaghter too who for the moment is an angel always has been I keep waiting for her to "turn" maybe there is hope she won't she is only 9 but has always been the greatest girl.

hikernurse · Dec 9, 2006

He doesn't want to work independently in class and needs lots of reminding. He doesn't get his work finished in class and the teacher sends TONS of stuff home sporadically, which is tremendously overwhelming. I have asked her to spread things our more but she doesn't seem to listen. One good thing is that he is not a discipline problem...that's not even a problem here at home...he just doesn't "Git 'er done"....he is Verrrrrry slow about everything, I use timers for everything including meals or he would just sit there for hours and play around.
It's very tedious with him

You're his mom and his best advocate. The school doesn't see how your boy behaves at home and even at school he's probably one of thirty students. The other posters gave good ideas about getting him tested--I had a friend who did that with her son and while it was expensive (it was through a local children's hospital and wasn't covered by her particular insurance) it was worth every penny to her. They covered everything from LD to OT and they gave suggestions that were able to be implemented at home and at school. It made all the difference for this boy.

I've got a 9 yo son with ADD and the first few years of school were a HUGE struggle. They tested him at school, he has a learning disability and spends an hour plus a day in resource. The resource teacher helps him with classwork so he doesn't get so behind and have to bring home tons. IMHO, young elementary students shouldn't be doing more than 30 minutes a day homework--tops. And that should include some fun stuff. If the teacher wants to save up his assignments and send them home all at once, you should do the same and have him just do some a day and send them back when they're done. Sometimes, I think teachers don't realize kids have lives at home, too.

But, I've got to say, this little boy of mine has been a challenge--I hate to admit it, but I kind of breathed a sigh of relief when he went to first grade. I felt like I spent the whole day walking him through his day. What helped me was deciding what were the most important tasks of the day (brushing teeth, homework, cleaning his room) were each morning and focusing on that. If the rest didn't get done (he stayed in pj's all day for instance) I let it go. Also with meals, I tried a timer, too, LOL. It wasn't nearly as effective as just clearing off his plate after a reasonable amount of time and taking it to the sink.

It has gotten better. But, knowing some of what you're going through, I worry about you, too. Be patient with yourself--for years my little guy had me in tears each and every day. I just didn't know how to help him and I felt like I was always on him for stuff the other kids did without thinking. I really had to change my thinking and realize this is just who he is before I could help him--I'm in no way saying this applies to you, just sharing my story a bit.

stpauligirl · Dec 9, 2006

I teach A & P at a community college (1 section a semester) - she got to go with me and help dissect a sheep brain and cow eyeball. She totally loved it. Next semester, I'm teaching A & P II and she wants to do a fetal pig. My supervisor said no way at the school, but she's given me one to bring home to her to dissect over the Christmas holiday...
Take care & have fun with the pond water!
Kathy

thanks, we will have fun searching for critters in the water :lol2:

Y"all have fun with the pig....I will never look at my cats and dogs the same way after the piggy experience!!!! My cat will lay on his back and I go:"Oh there is your little heart (and I know exactly how little it is and picture it beating and I am sooooo amazed that it works the way it does!!!!)

My son saw a dissected pig in a display case at our school....he was fascinated! I guess we are training the future medical workers

BTW we will have a Honey Baked Ham on X-Mas day.... :uhoh3:

I may have difficulty eating it :lol2:

:icon_cheesygrin:

stpauligirl · Dec 9, 2006

I must admit, I have an She is 15 and has never had an attitude of any kind with me. I am a very lucky mom. She is proud of what I am doing, and I think it does her good to see me studying my butt off too.

Thank God for your angel.....you are very lucky :wink2:

stpauligirl · Dec 9, 2006

I am sorry you are having it hard. I am sure he will grow out of it. I bet he misses his dad and just needs attention. Maybe try to give the little guy a hug. That might be just what he needs. He seems like a good kid from what you have said in posts. Keep doing the good job you are doing.

I give him lots lof hugs....I really try to keep my cool with him and remind myself that he is only 8! I just wonder how much more attention he needs. I can't sit at home and be exclusivley fixed on him and never do anything for myself, that's what he seems to want ....I only do things part time and it seems too much. That's what is so frustrating.

stpauligirl · Dec 9, 2006

You're his mom and his best advocate. The school doesn't see how your boy behaves at home and even at school he's probably one of thirty students. The other posters gave good ideas about getting him tested--I had a friend who did that with her son and while it was expensive (it was through a local children's hospital and wasn't covered by her particular insurance) it was worth every penny to her. They covered everything from LD to OT and they gave suggestions that were able to be implemented at home and at school. It made all the difference for this boy.
I've got a 9 yo son with ADD and the first few years of school were a HUGE struggle. They tested him at school, he has a learning disability and spends an hour plus a day in resource. The resource teacher helps him with classwork so he doesn't get so behind and have to bring home tons. IMHO, young elementary students shouldn't be doing more than 30 minutes a day homework--tops. And that should include some fun stuff. If the teacher wants to save up his assignments and send them home all at once, you should do the same and have him just do some a day and send them back when they're done. Sometimes, I think teachers don't realize kids have lives at home, too.
But, I've got to say, this little boy of mine has been a challenge--I hate to admit it, but I kind of breathed a sigh of relief when he went to first grade. I felt like I spent the whole day walking him through his day. What helped me was deciding what were the most important tasks of the day (brushing teeth, homework, cleaning his room) were each morning and focusing on that. If the rest didn't get done (he stayed in pj's all day for instance) I let it go. Also with meals, I tried a timer, too, LOL. It wasn't nearly as effective as just clearing off his plate after a reasonable amount of time and taking it to the sink.
It has gotten better. But, knowing some of what you're going through, I worry about you, too. Be patient with yourself--for years my little guy had me in tears each and every day. I just didn't know how to help him and I felt like I was always on him for stuff the other kids did without thinking. I really had to change my thinking and realize this is just who he is before I could help him--I'm in no way saying this applies to you, just sharing my story a bit.

After Wednesday I'll have more time and I will definitely get things in gear about getting him tested. I am emotionally drained and that is not good for my health. The break will be good for me, too.

Thanks for all your advice, I'll let you know how things evolve.

He actually had a good week, no foldermarks at the end of this week and was doing much better getting things done in school. His progress report ( he got it yesterday) shows that his grades are coming up again, too. Hopefully this was just an episode and he had to "hit" bottom. He had a very good report card with only one B the first grading period but went totally down hill this second, for this period it's ok with me if he just passes all his subjects ..... it didnl't look like it a couple of weeks ago. I just hope it won't ever get this bad again. It's enough to drive you crazy, isn't it?

Another thing that came to my mind is....he is tongue tied and needs a procedure, it's worried him for a while. His operation is Dec 18 and I try to be as sensitive as I possibly can to reassure him that things will be ok. He's also got braces not too long ago and it's been a real pain dealing with it.

Thanks for all your support, have a wonderful Holiday

Yin Yang · Dec 9, 2006

We'll be having ham too....It'll just make me appreciate it a little more...lol..Merry Christmas!

Kathy

stpauligirl · Dec 9, 2006

We'll be having ham too....It'll just make me appreciate it a little more...lol..Merry Christmas!
Kathy

The smell of the fermenting hearts and the little piggies will stay with me FOREVER. It was a life changing experience since I never dissected a thing in my entire life before this class....you see I am totally new to the idea of biology and medicine at age 47. I was an English major LOL I was such a blood phobic until we pricked our own fingers and made a blood smear in our lab to count our WBC's. I thought I'd get sick just reading about blood.....but it's totally different now, 16 weeks later at the end of the class. I am officially "broken in" :lol2:

I still think I will pass the ham and just stick to my mashed potatoes and green beans, my husband ordered it today and I told him to get a smaller size :lol2:

Enjoy your ham!

catzy5 · Dec 9, 2006

I give him lots lof hugs....I really try to keep my cool with him and remind myself that he is only 8! I just wonder how much more attention he needs. I can't sit at home and be exclusivley fixed on him and never do anything for myself, that's what he seems to want ....I only do things part time and it seems too much. That's what is so frustrating.

lol thats the handy part of having twins! they totally entertain/fight with each other LOL. My only complaint is the arguing fighting and just general rough housing.

catzy5 · Dec 9, 2006

After Wednesday I'll have more time and I will definitely get things in gear about getting him tested. I am emotionally drained and that is not good for my health. The break will be good for me, too.
Thanks for all your advice, I'll let you know how things evolve.
He actually had a good week, no foldermarks at the end of this week and was doing much better getting things done in school. His progress report ( he got it yesterday) shows that his grades are coming up again, too. Hopefully this was just an episode and he had to "hit" bottom. He had a very good report card with only one B the first grading period but went totally down hill this second, for this period it's ok with me if he just passes all his subjects ..... it didnl't look like it a couple of weeks ago. I just hope it won't ever get this bad again. It's enough to drive you crazy, isn't it?
Another thing that came to my mind is....he is tongue tied and needs a procedure, it's worried him for a while. His operation is Dec 18 and I try to be as sensitive as I possibly can to reassure him that things will be ok. He's also got braces not too long ago and it's been a real pain dealing with it.
Thanks for all your support, have a wonderful Holiday

one of my twins had that problem too its been fixed many moons ago, during one of his other ENT operations (tubes adenoids etc..) it was a very simple procedure but can see how it would scare an 8 yr old.

One of my twins has been having some sensitive surgies this past month and its made him act up too its scary for the little guys and they are at an age where they understand and can have real fears.