I’m really glad I got him checked out yesterday, you can’t take risks when the Dr is insisting you take him to the hospital immediately, but sometimes there is nothing like a mother’s instinct and this morning I just had to take a bit of a risk (I know, could be a dangerous thing to be sure of). My 8 year old woke up and announced that he couldn’t see anything clearly. That his eyes were sore and that they were FAR worse than yesterday and he then proceeded to roam around the house like a zombie. I was thinking, if his performance trying to read letters was well, just that, a performance, then that boy is going to go far. It was pure genius.
“What are you doing?” he asked me. “I’m writing a letter to your teacher to say that you will need a lot of help at school today because you can’t see anything”. “What DO you mean?” I cannot possibly go to school when I can’t see a thing!”. “Oh, yes you most certainly can – visually impaired people still need to go to school”. “But they really hurt AND I can’t believe you are taking the word of that stupid man in a strange hat who shone a bright light into my eyes – I mean he can’t see into my head can he? HE CAN”T and I’m telling you I am struggling to even see your face….” and so it went on, all the way to school, “well, don’t be surprised when you get a call from the medical room because that’s where I’ll be”. “Ok. That’s fine” I told him, “but it might get a little bit boring because I’m teaching all day so I won’t be able to collect you until going home time”. “Oh”.
I picked him up after school. He looked fine. I told him that he’d been invited to a friends to play, but that maybe he should come home now if his eyes were still bad “oh no, they’re completely fine now” he said, “please can I go and play”.
Am I ever pleased my degree was in Psychology. I might be doing it all wrong, but the trick is to remain one step ahead….and at this rate it’s not going to last much longer.
I actually think what it was all about was a desire wear glasses. Odd.
The Dotterel
October 17, 2008That’s positively Machiavellian (on both your parts!).
family affairs
October 17, 2008I love Machiavelli Lx
Frankofile
October 17, 2008Good try, 8yo! Good call, mum.
optometrist? ophthalmologist?
Lehners in France
October 17, 2008L. I hope it all works out well and his problems really are not as medically serious as you feared.
Kids can be terrible, when I was his age I used to put talc on my lips and tongue to look ill so that I didn’t have to go to school. I also feigned severe tummy ache, so good was my acting that I was rushed into hospital with suspected appendicitis. The pessary up the bum cured my appendix toute de suite!
My ex’s youngest had terrible problems, no-one saw them but me. His parents were too busy aportioning blame. I recognised his behaviour as similar to mine (ADHD, Dyslexic, attention seeking). He was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and ADHD. Sadly I diagnosed him at eleven and it was only when he was threatened with expulsion from school at fifteen did his parents do anything.
I do hope your son is attention seeking and it is a reaction to his “family” situation he finds hmself in. You have your degree I am sure you will have to use it.
Good luck and I hope he settles, his world has been rocked. Debs x
family affairs
October 17, 2008Yes, sadly I am aware that he is deeply affected by our family situation and may well be reacting accordingly. It is difficult to get the balance between sympathy, understanding and drawing a line….we’ll see. Fingers crossed he’s just testing the water a little. Lx
Kitty
October 17, 2008You’re right, a mother’s instinct is the best indicator … you just know them SO well that you can usually spot a ‘sign’.
Hope he had a good time at his friend’s house! x
Chimera
October 17, 2008Hey there..very glad optic nerve all strong and things looking up physically. is this the lad being encouraged to lose weight? I wonder if he is acting out to ‘divert attnetion’ from bits of anatomy that are in his control to those that are not…
Also it may be that he actually had a swift sight freak out and was frightened (it can happen for all kinds of reasons) and still needs to feel that he is ‘being rescued’. All perfectly understandable. I hope he opthalmologist can shed some light on it all. And good on you for pushing the boundaries but not pushing him! You rock as a Mum!
T x
Janelle
October 17, 2008well the boy has a point. glasses, if chosen correctly, can make you look hellova clever…x j
Lori ann
October 18, 2008my kids went through similar situations and i guess the truth is sometimes something will trigger another bit of drama(don’t mean that in a negative way) and now it’s getting easier to see it for what it is(like l.i.f.). the thing that worked for me was to just say it. divorce sucks. its brutal. we all wish it had never had to happen. but it has. and now it is ok to feel all the feelings that come with it. and then to carry on.still be a family, and go to school,work,everything.not to be simplistic but I hope this makes sense.you are not alone. It really will be alright. You are a fabulous person/mom, i’m sure.
xx lori
Expat mum
October 19, 2008Ooh, the little bugger! He will go far!
A Mother's Place is in the Wrong
October 22, 2008Well done Lulu, but it’s so hard to get it right! He’s obviously a chip off the old block..M 🙂