Rigid thinking

G’s been home with the flu all week, which has really kept us hopping.  In one respect, this really torks me off since we did a lot of legwork to track down the flu mist in November to respect G’s current shot phobia.  In another, we only got him half vaccinated because he needed to go back for a second dose 6 weeks after the first, at which point they’d run out of the mist so we decided to ‘take our chances.’  Live and learn, I suppose.

Tonight G and I played a board game where you draw a card, look at the picture and find a word that rhymes with the picture on the board.  It can be a great game for abstract thinking and for helping G learn to find something in a chaotic scene.  (there’s a term for that but it’s escaping me right now)

I drew a card that had an empty picture frame and an arrow pointing to the frame to make it clear that the word to rhyme with was ‘frame.’  G was just as sure that the word to rhyme with was ‘up’ because the arrow in the middle of the frame was pointing up.  No amount of convincing would change his mind.  I showed him that the arrow could just as easily be pointing down or left or right.  G insisted I was holding the card wrong because clearly the arrow was supposed to be pointing up.  I had G look for words that rhymed with up while I found words that rhymed with frame.  I found two, G found zero. 

By now, G and I were laughing too hard in our efforts to convince each other they were wrong so we called a halt to the game.  The ‘abstract thinking’ lesson was a partially successful in that G was able to look at the picture in a fresh new way.  It was unsuccessful in that he was unable to see another point of view.  But we had a lot of fun and that’s most important!

Battle of Wills

DH is not around this evening, so I opted for an easy meal and decided to use some leftover grilled chicken to put together a salad for dinner.  G is a great eater and has had salad often and enjoyed it.  Tonight, as soon as I mentioned the word salad G started making ‘yucky’ noises and flat out refused to eat it.

I should mention at this point that I am an extremely stubborn person.  Extremely.  G gets choices for breakfast and lunch but the house rule is that you eat what is served for dinner or you don’t eat until breakfast because dinner is a more labor-intensive undertaking.  (except for tonight, but a rule is a rule)  So I stated the house rule for G in a firm voice and gave him the choice to eat or not eat.  G fell to the floor shrieking that he would never-ever-ever eat ever-ever again.

I decided if I was going to listen to yelling that it should be political punditry so I’d at least be learning something constructive.  Family dinner became, ‘G and mom eat in front of their own tv sets,’ and I popped in G’s favorite dvd.  I asked G to pick a salad dressing.  G shrieked that he did not need to pick a dressing – didn’t I remember that he was never-ever eating again?  I gave him the choice between ranch and blue cheese.  G shrieked that he would never choose those dressings.  He would only choose vinaigrette.

As I pulled the vinagrette out of the fridge, I decided I’d also be having a glass of savigon blanc with my salad.  I got G’s plate set out, let him watch me pour on the dressing, shake on some cheese and then I left him in the kitchen/playroom while I took my plate to the living room.  A few minutes later I peeked in.  He was eating!!  He eventually ate all the chicken, carrots, cucumbers and some lettuce.  He left the yellow pepper, tomato and mushrooms.  I’m counting this as a win!!

I have no idea what turned the tide.  It might have been that I was very firm.  It might have been offering him choices whenever I could.  Maybe it was leaving the room so he could back down with dignity.  Personally, I think it was the wine.

Follow-Thru

G got a St Patrick’s Day package from his Grams and was very excited.  In the package was a card and in the card she wrote, “Hope you like the movie.”  The problem?  There was no movie included in the package.

G:   How come it says hope I like the movie but there is no movie in the package?  Where is the movie?  Is the movie lost?  What movie was it?  Where is the movie?  Do I like the movie?  What movie?  Where is the movie?

After 30 minutes, I had him place a call to his grams, who wasn’t home so he left a message.  Grams called back later that day.  He saw her name on the caller ID and upon answering immediately launched into his interrogation.

G:  Hi Grams, you sent me a card and said you hoped I liked the movie but there is no movie in the package.  What movie is it?  Where is the movie?

Grams apologized profusely.  She had selected a movie for the package and then found an activity book she thought G would like better.  So she decided to save the movie for an Easter gift, forgetting that she had already mentioned the movie in the card.  This appeased G to some degree.  Grams promising to send the movie out in the mail tomorrow was even better.

I think she learned her lesson. 

Math – Day One

G’s first day in 2nd grade math was yesterday (teacher work day on monday) and it seemed to go well!  They said he bounced all the way up to the classroom and we very excited when he could raise his hand and answer a question.  The teacher seems well suited for G and happy to have him join her class.  She also sends home a little report page to give us a quick idea of how the class went.

I really want this to work out!  I have a couple of concerns.  First, G will be missing PE for math and PE is his most favorite class.  I worry that when the novelty of math wears off he’ll realize what he’s missing and refuse to go anymore.  Second, I’m still nervous about him going to recess after math with the 2nd graders.  He has an aide with him, and by aide I mean the school psychologist who I adore so there is no one better qualified.  But I still worry about the kids not wanting to play with him.  I’m having a hard time letting go of the mama-bear and letting him experience life with it’s ups and downs on his own.  On his own with his aide, that is. 

G did word problems yesterday.  Amazing word problems for a kindergartner.  Like “G bought 2 strips of 10 balloon stickers and 4 teddy bear stickers, then bought 3 strips of 5 star stickers and 2 rainbow stickers.  How many stickers does G have?”  I am so impressed with him and so proud I’m bragging about him all over town.  And the internet.  lol

Bursting With Pride

G’s team has formally tested his math proficiency and has decided to have him take math class with the 2nd graders.  He actually hit the proficient mark for 3rd grade math but the year is mostly over so he’d have to catch up a bit to go to math there.  The second grade teacher is familiar with G and is very excited to have him join her class.  I am beyond thrilled!!

Taking math with the 2nd grade class means he’d miss recess with the kindergarteners.  Recess is important for him so they’ve decided he should go to recess with the 2nd graders right after math.  He’ll have an aide with him every day to help him navigate the new social environment.  But they’re also testing a theory that the older kids established social skills might help him develop his own social skills to a more age-appropriate level.  Right now he seems to get in trouble with the other kids that have some deficiencies in this area instead of playing with the kids that would help him progress.  I am very intrigued by this idea.  Anyone have any similar experience they could share?

I love this school.  I love that they’re so willing to address G’s strengths as well as his challenges.  And so far they’ve initiated all these great ideas on their own, we haven’t had to fight for anything.  Moving to this town for this school was the best decision ever!