First off let me say that I have wanted to "home school" my children way before they were even conceived or before I was even married.
Second let me say that I married a school teacher, not any of mine of coarse but one who taught school. Well after we got married and moved to California he taught at public school. Then we moved to NC and he taught here for a couple years before he decided t wasn't for him.
So after one child was in the picture, we traveled across country two times and had two more children. We found or current home in North Carolina, it's not our Michigan but it's home for now and we like it here.
OK so that's 3 kids within 4 years time. Now we are at present day the children are 6, 4, and 2.
The confession: I put my oldest in Public school to prove a point to my husband. No one won. I knew in my heart it was the wrong thing to do. I will regret it as long as I live. I will say that I'm a coward and gave up fighting for what I thought was right and best for our son because my husband along with some other people we know said to put him public school.
So if you don't know us you might be saying so what what's wrong with PS (public school)? Why do you regret it? Well our son is not like most children, we know this. He beats to the sound of his own drum.
He fears nothing, never has until he went to PS. He went happily the 1st day as it was an adventure. That was it, the second day was torture as were many more. His Dad took him and he coward in a ball because he didn’t want to go in. He was having some major anxiety issues.
It’s not that 1st grade work was over his head it was the opposite. I will say except his hand writing everything he did in 1st grade public school was stuff he did at home in preschool. For 20 days he went to public school. On the last day his told his Dad he didn’t want to go to public school anymore. So his Dad filed the papers to withdraw him.
We knew PS was changing our child in many ways. It was squelching his love of learning. His bad behaviors were out numbering all the good. Everyday was an all out battle. Battle to get up, battle to get to the bus stop, battles at school I’m sure, and battles when getting off the bus, battles to do homework after he was already at school for 7 hours. Counting the bus ride he was gone for 8 hours a day.
During the time he was going to PS he asked on several occasions if he could do “our math”. He liked our books better than the mildew smell of the PS books. He said he got yelled at everyday and even for going around a book shelf the wrong way in the library. Still not sure what THAT was all about. He was beginning to raise his hand to talk to us, when he did want to talk to us. He began to become introverted, so unlike our child. Our child is the kid everyone knows he talks to EVERYONE. Not just the kids at the pool or play ground but the parents, the office workers the librarians, construction workers, neighbors, cashiers etc…
So what wasn't working? The system wasn't working for Paul Ryan. The teacher met with my Husband and told him that PR is a very bright child, reading grades ahead of his peers. But…because of his hand writing, the way he walks, him not looking her in the eye and of coarse the anxiety he was having made her think that he has ADHD or something.
It’s not like the thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I asked his Dr. when he was 3. He said no he wasn’t. The nurse said to give him caffeine as it would slow him down. I did try it but nope it didn’t work. So on with life we go. I will ask the Dr. we have here in Chapel Hill. PR & Andy are due for their yearly visits I’m just hoping not to take them right in the middle of flu season for a “well visit”.
I did read a little about ADHD and found several behaviors that PR does have that could be associated with ADHD.
This is what the Fiengold site had to say were symptoms of ADHD:
http://www.feingold.org/pg-symptoms.html
Behavior Problems
Marked hyperactivity
Constant motion
Running instead of walking
Inability to sit still
Inappropriate wiggling of legs/hands
Impulsive actions
Poor self-control, unpredictable behavior
Disruptive behavior / disturbs others
Unresponsive to discipline
Abusive behavior, unkindness to pets
Destructive behaviors: throws, breaks things
Little or no recognition of danger to self
Inappropriate noises
Excessive or loud talking, interrupts often
Compulsive actions
Aggression
Perseveration/repeating of an activity
Touching things or people excessively
Chewing on clothing, other objects
Scratching, biting & picking at skin
Workaholic habits
Emotional concerns
Low frustration tolerance
Demands immediate attention
Irritability
Overreaction to touch, pain, sound, lights
Nervousness, panics easily
Mood swings
Low self-esteem
Depression
Frequent crying
Suicidal thoughts
Learning Problems
Short attention span
Impatience
Distraction
Failure to complete projects
Inability to listen to whole story
Inability to follow directions
Neuro-muscular involvement
Accident prone
Poor muscle coordination
Difficulty writing, drawing
Dyslexia/reading problems
Speech difficulties/delays
Difficulty with playground activities, sports
Eye muscle disorder (nystagmus, strabismus)
Tics (unusual or uncontrollable movements)
Seizures (if combined with migraine or hyperactivity)
Cognitive andperceptual disturbances
Auditory memory deficits (difficulty remembering what is heard)
Visual memory deficits (difficulty remembering what is seen)
Difficulty in comprehension and short term memory
Disturbance in spatial orientation (up-down, right-left)
Difficulties in reasoning (simple math problems, meaning in words)
Health Problems
People who have symptoms of ADHD that respond well to dietary management also frequently have health problems such as:
Frequent physical complaints
Ear infections
Asthma
Bedwetting (enuresis)
Daytime wetting
Stomachaches
Headaches, migraines
Hives, rashes (urticaria)
Eczema
Leg aches
Constipation, diarrhea
Congestion
Seizures (if combined with migraine or hyperactivity)
Sleep problems
Resistance to going to bed
Difficulty falling asleep
Restless / erratic sleep
Nightmares, bad dreams
So there it is tell me what you think?
Also he is doing great in home school he is picking up books on his own once again and loves AWANA's and playing with his friends and star wars figures. He is a great helper and good big brother.
Second let me say that I married a school teacher, not any of mine of coarse but one who taught school. Well after we got married and moved to California he taught at public school. Then we moved to NC and he taught here for a couple years before he decided t wasn't for him.
So after one child was in the picture, we traveled across country two times and had two more children. We found or current home in North Carolina, it's not our Michigan but it's home for now and we like it here.
OK so that's 3 kids within 4 years time. Now we are at present day the children are 6, 4, and 2.
The confession: I put my oldest in Public school to prove a point to my husband. No one won. I knew in my heart it was the wrong thing to do. I will regret it as long as I live. I will say that I'm a coward and gave up fighting for what I thought was right and best for our son because my husband along with some other people we know said to put him public school.
So if you don't know us you might be saying so what what's wrong with PS (public school)? Why do you regret it? Well our son is not like most children, we know this. He beats to the sound of his own drum.
He fears nothing, never has until he went to PS. He went happily the 1st day as it was an adventure. That was it, the second day was torture as were many more. His Dad took him and he coward in a ball because he didn’t want to go in. He was having some major anxiety issues.
It’s not that 1st grade work was over his head it was the opposite. I will say except his hand writing everything he did in 1st grade public school was stuff he did at home in preschool. For 20 days he went to public school. On the last day his told his Dad he didn’t want to go to public school anymore. So his Dad filed the papers to withdraw him.
We knew PS was changing our child in many ways. It was squelching his love of learning. His bad behaviors were out numbering all the good. Everyday was an all out battle. Battle to get up, battle to get to the bus stop, battles at school I’m sure, and battles when getting off the bus, battles to do homework after he was already at school for 7 hours. Counting the bus ride he was gone for 8 hours a day.
During the time he was going to PS he asked on several occasions if he could do “our math”. He liked our books better than the mildew smell of the PS books. He said he got yelled at everyday and even for going around a book shelf the wrong way in the library. Still not sure what THAT was all about. He was beginning to raise his hand to talk to us, when he did want to talk to us. He began to become introverted, so unlike our child. Our child is the kid everyone knows he talks to EVERYONE. Not just the kids at the pool or play ground but the parents, the office workers the librarians, construction workers, neighbors, cashiers etc…
So what wasn't working? The system wasn't working for Paul Ryan. The teacher met with my Husband and told him that PR is a very bright child, reading grades ahead of his peers. But…because of his hand writing, the way he walks, him not looking her in the eye and of coarse the anxiety he was having made her think that he has ADHD or something.
It’s not like the thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I asked his Dr. when he was 3. He said no he wasn’t. The nurse said to give him caffeine as it would slow him down. I did try it but nope it didn’t work. So on with life we go. I will ask the Dr. we have here in Chapel Hill. PR & Andy are due for their yearly visits I’m just hoping not to take them right in the middle of flu season for a “well visit”.
I did read a little about ADHD and found several behaviors that PR does have that could be associated with ADHD.
This is what the Fiengold site had to say were symptoms of ADHD:
http://www.feingold.org/pg-symptoms.html
Behavior Problems
Marked hyperactivity
Constant motion
Running instead of walking
Inability to sit still
Inappropriate wiggling of legs/hands
Impulsive actions
Poor self-control, unpredictable behavior
Disruptive behavior / disturbs others
Unresponsive to discipline
Abusive behavior, unkindness to pets
Destructive behaviors: throws, breaks things
Little or no recognition of danger to self
Inappropriate noises
Excessive or loud talking, interrupts often
Compulsive actions
Aggression
Perseveration/repeating of an activity
Touching things or people excessively
Chewing on clothing, other objects
Scratching, biting & picking at skin
Workaholic habits
Emotional concerns
Low frustration tolerance
Demands immediate attention
Irritability
Overreaction to touch, pain, sound, lights
Nervousness, panics easily
Mood swings
Low self-esteem
Depression
Frequent crying
Suicidal thoughts
Learning Problems
Short attention span
Impatience
Distraction
Failure to complete projects
Inability to listen to whole story
Inability to follow directions
Neuro-muscular involvement
Accident prone
Poor muscle coordination
Difficulty writing, drawing
Dyslexia/reading problems
Speech difficulties/delays
Difficulty with playground activities, sports
Eye muscle disorder (nystagmus, strabismus)
Tics (unusual or uncontrollable movements)
Seizures (if combined with migraine or hyperactivity)
Cognitive andperceptual disturbances
Auditory memory deficits (difficulty remembering what is heard)
Visual memory deficits (difficulty remembering what is seen)
Difficulty in comprehension and short term memory
Disturbance in spatial orientation (up-down, right-left)
Difficulties in reasoning (simple math problems, meaning in words)
Health Problems
People who have symptoms of ADHD that respond well to dietary management also frequently have health problems such as:
Frequent physical complaints
Ear infections
Asthma
Bedwetting (enuresis)
Daytime wetting
Stomachaches
Headaches, migraines
Hives, rashes (urticaria)
Eczema
Leg aches
Constipation, diarrhea
Congestion
Seizures (if combined with migraine or hyperactivity)
Sleep problems
Resistance to going to bed
Difficulty falling asleep
Restless / erratic sleep
Nightmares, bad dreams
So there it is tell me what you think?
Also he is doing great in home school he is picking up books on his own once again and loves AWANA's and playing with his friends and star wars figures. He is a great helper and good big brother.
1 comments:
Dearest Friend,
You and I both know he is a wonderful bright child. I still remember the first time I saw you. All the other moms had there children sitting perfectly still in their mothers lap, listening to the teacher. Our two boys on the other hand were running around like crazy in the room and wouldn't sit still. Cainen is still that way. I am still working with Cainen to look at people in the face and to sit still when we are praying. I am still working with him to do all the things you are with PR. I am so glad we are going through this together. God knew what he was doing that day at church. He knew we needed each other. Keep your hopes up. You did the right thing. When the days get hard remember there's someone in California that loves you and knows how it all feels. Cainen's preschool teacher said the same things about him in Lancaster. But we know who our sons are and we no God never makes any two people a like. Are boys delight living out side the box and so should we. Love you!
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