Sherry Davey
Earthquakes, tsunamis, rising unemployment, (my husband is still unemployed 7 months later - so sexy) the economy, failing industries, the health care crisis, global warming, Detroit. Have you heard enough? Are you ready to just drive your hybrid car into a tree already?...wait a minute. We need that tree. Try driving into a Walmart...that would make us all feel a bit better...just avoid the greeter. She's probably somebody's grandma and most likely the primary child care provider in her household. As if all this isn't bad enough, we received some more troubling news yesterday: Lily is receiving extra help in Math and Reading during school. What?! I thought she was doing so well in her new school?
It appears that she has some challenges. Yes, I'm thrilled that her new teacher has recognized these challenges and for the intervention of educational assistance.....but...I'm being honest here.....it's a bit devastating to hear that your child is not the genius you thought they were....and that they need so much help at such a young age.
Lily's been having trouble paying attention since toddlerhood. I noticed her inability to focus when she was only one year old. I always thought my child was different from other children in the way she coped, socialized and her lack of socialization. These factors became more evident when we got together with cousins and other children for playdates. I brought my concerns to the attention of her pediatrician but he generally told me to relax and just 'wait and see'. Well we waited and now what we're seeing is cause for concern.
We enrolled her in a behavioral modification program last year for nine months to address these issues. We have an appointment for an EEG next week with a neurologist and then a full neuro-psyche work up after that. Her neurologist used terms like ADD and PDD at our first consultation and also raised the looming spectre of the whole 'autism spectrum' thing. I've begun to hate that word 'spectrum'. I don't even like seeing it on sunscreen labels anymore.
Goodness! I'm trying to remain positive as the benefits of early intervention are so well known but I'm really sad for her. Can't help it. Just feeling sad. She threw up in school the other day and came home saying all the other children were laughing at her. I had a feeling this was not true as from my own experience (hello New Years Eve 2009), vomit doesn't usually engender laughter at any age.....more like disgust. I called her teacher to see if anyone had been laughing and she said no. That made me even sadder for her. Is she becoming paranoid too? She seems so confident and generally has strong self esteem. What's going on with this child?
Have your child ever presented with such issues?
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