Where is that switch anyway!?

This sums up one of my concerns about my son...

"He didn't learn the same. WHEN he learned, he learned FASTER, and deeper than any of the kids we were around. But he also didn't learn consistently like they did. It was like someone flipped a switch and he went from dark to lit up 100 watts all at once. Seeing that he learned so fast really didn't make me worried. (...) What did kill me was waiting for him to get that switch flipped. It never seemed like it was up to me but rather to some random timer switch." from Building Wing Span

Raccoon absorbs information, and remembers it, in amazing quantities, but his perfectionism wars with the flawed repetition necessary for mastery. At this point, I'm not sure when (sometimes I whisper to myself if?) he will speak Spanish (despite living in a fully bilingual home), and many other things that he is not just uninterested in, but actively dislikes. Letters also come to mind.

Museum of the Month

It's been a long time since I've done one of these posts, but hopefully there will be more in the future. There are tons of interesting places to go near our new home. This month's was the KidsQuest Children's Museum. I got free passes through our local library, hooray!

I chose to go right at noon, thinking that there wouldn't be many children there, but I was wrong. It was very crowded and Raccoon soon felt anxious and overwhelmed. Robin was not happy either (see her bored face), but she fell asleep shortly after we arrived.

What Raccoon did enjoy - as much as he could on sensory overload - were the various water tables. He spent the most time connecting various pipes, along with getting thoroughly wet.

We have been to two other children's museums in Maine, but neither one was as busy as this one (at least while we were there). It makes me a little sad that I thought it would be fun, but it mostly just ended up being stressful for all of us. When things are going well at home, or at least whatever is our normal, sometimes I forget what life is like outside our safe zone. It just reminded me that I am still a special needs mommy.

Kindergarten Readiness

Below is a copy of the World Book preschool list with Raccoon's incomplete tasks in red and my notes. I first saw the list mentioned here. The details are below, but they pretty much confirm what I already knew. The areas we need to work on the most are fine motor skills and social-emotional development (especially separation anxiety and interactions with others). I occasionally look at lists like this to see if there are any gaps we can gently work on, and to know where we are headed. But in the end, it's just a guide, and my son is an amazing gift, no matter what he can or cannot do.

Colors and Shapes

 * Copies shapes.

Numbers

 * Counts orally through 10. (can but likes to start at 5)
 * Counts objects in one-to-one correspondence. (can for 3 or 4, then goes out of order)

Reading Readiness

 * Pronounces own last name (gives it when prompted - not yet)
 * Tells the meaning of words heard in story (not sure, he does ask what unfamiliar words mean)
 * Identifies own first name in manuscript.
 * Prints own first name.

Time
 * Knows age and birthday.

Motor Skills

 * Is able to alternate feet walking down stairs (up yes, down not sure).
 * Is able to march (not sure but I think so)
 * Is able to stand on one foot for 5-10 seconds.
 * Able to button a garment.
 * Draws and colors beyond a simple scribble.
 * Controls pencil and crayon well.
 * Cuts simple shapes.
 * Handles scissors well.
 * Able to copy simple shapes.

Social-Emotional Development

* Can be away from parents or primary care givers for 2-3 hours without being upset (not sure, never tried)
 * Takes care of toilet needs independently (can, doesn't always choose to)
 * Is not afraid to go to school (not sure)
 * Knows full name.
 * Dresses self (can undress completely, putting shirt and socks on still hard)
 * Crosses residential street safely (not alone)
 * Asks to go to school.
 * Knows parents' names (first yes, last no)
 * Knows home address.
 * Knows home phone number.
 * Enters into casual conversation (at times)
 * Maintains self-control.
 * Gets along well with other children (at times)
 * Plays with other children (at times)
 * Recognizes authority (at times)
 * Shares with others (at times)
 * Talks easily.
 * Likes teachers.
 * Meets visitors without shyness.
* Able to stay on task.
 * Able to work independently.

I also found this list - 71 Things Your Child Needs to Know Before Kindergarten - and we still have quite a ways to go, but there is plenty of time. My "baby" is just 36 months old. :)

 

Tricky Tuesday - Anxiety

This challenge is on my mind with our upcoming travel for my grandmother's funeral.

If I tell Raccoon we're going somewhere, I need to be ready to get in the car NOW because he starts to worry. It's almost like he thinks I'm going to forget to take him, which I have never done, I swear. Okay, well maybe I have gone off to the corner store once or twice without saying goodbye, but he's usually happily playing with his dad. The longer it takes us to be ready, the more he freaks out. But as soon as he's strapped in his car seat and we're on our way, everything is okay. All of a sudden, he's magically happy and we're completely frazzled. I do have to admit that my father was the same way any time we were going on a trip, but my husband and I are not. I think it's funny that my son is the same even though he's rarely around his grandfather. Inherited travel anxiety?

He also has severe separation anxiety, even if I go into another room at home. After a minute I'll hear his little voice calling me, "Mama, MAma, MAMA?" If he doesn't hear my answering call, he'll either come looking, start to cry, or both. It's hard because I don't get any time to myself unless he's asleep. He's not the kind of child to cry a little when I leave, then get over it. He escalates and cannot be calmed down, trust me on this.

I would classify these challenges as ongoing.