My funny son

[Guest guest]

I guess we couldn't live if we couldn't see the humor in some of this.

I thought I'd share a laugh with you guys, and maybe brighten someone

else's day as well.

As I mentioned, my little guy (7 yo) had been having a really rough

time of it lately (He has PANDAS, and we were wondering about a strep.

infection. A new antibiotic really did make a huge difference). Last

week, he started obsessing about being sick, and also not wanting to go

to school. I got him to come with me one morning (I teach at his

school) and then his teacher convinced him to come into class, but the

following morning, he balked entirely. He is very bright and

articulate, and is quite the character. In the end, he " got over it " ,

but the entire conversation was just so funny, I had to share it.

Son: I'm sick and I can't go to school.

Me: Really?

Son: Yes, (putting hands on forehead). I'm burning up with a fever

and my stomach and my throat hurt. Also my knees are very sore. I

can't even bend them and I can't walk. And, worst of all, when I was

chewing my cereal, my teeth were making a funny noise and they all felt

lose, so I am pretty sure all of my teeth are falling out.

Me: It sounds a bit like you're obsessing.

Son: I think I might really be sick this time.

Me: I think your obsessing.

Son: (gets quiet for a while, and thinks) <sigh> I guess you're right.

Mostly old people have all their teeth fall out and get fake teeth

anyway. Even if I'm not sick, though, I really don't want to go to

school.

Me: Are you obsessing about that too?

Son: Maybe a little bit, but I'm having a lot or tics at school, and

I'm worrying a lot about going to school, and what's the point of going

anyway? I'm pretty much done with first grade. I know everything we

are doing and we're not doing much new anyway. I'm ready to just retire

from first grade.

(We talk a little about the fact that he needs to go to school, and

some of the fun things he does. We also agree to talk with his teacher

about maybe giving him something new to learn in math. He is still not

convinced and still doesn't want to go).

Son: I'm guess I'm just one of those people who likes to have fun more

than they like to work.

Me: Lots of us are one of those people; but, this is one of those

things where you don't have a choice. I can't leave you home alone, and

I have to go to work and earn some money!

Son: Mooommmm Don't you realize that there are some things in life

more important than money? I think the well-being of your son is one of

them!

Me: (trying not to laugh). Well, I'm going to school. What would you

do if you stayed home anyway?

Son: I guess sitting on the couch all day and watching TV is out?

Me (laughing for sure) Yes!

Son: (getting his book bag) <sigh> I don't know why I have to make all

the difficult decisions around here!

Luckily for us his day was fine. He has really bonded with his

teacher, and he talked with him quite a bit about the OCD and tics, and

we seem to have weathered this storm. We've also put into his IEP that

he will be stopping by to " visit " his school weekly during the summer,

so he doesn't get completely out of the habit of going to school. (It

is going to be quite the transition. His current school is closing and

being consolidated into a new school which will be stressful enough. On

top of that I won't be going to his school with him anymore as I will

be staying home with a new baby sister!)

Jeanne

jwestpha@...

NBCT - Exceptional Needs (2000)

[Guest guest]

THAT was adorable!!!

You know, I hope your son does ok with the transition. Knowing how my son

copes with things....I'm guessing you'll have some problems but I'm praying

they won't be many. ;o)

Do you ever feel like you have to reason with an OCD child 1000 times more

than any other child? You have such a SMART little guy there Jeanne too.

He's going to keep you on your toes!! LOL!

Hugs........ )

My funny son

> I guess we couldn't live if we couldn't see the humor in some of this.

> I thought I'd share a laugh with you guys, and maybe brighten someone

> else's day as well.

>

> As I mentioned, my little guy (7 yo) had been having a really rough

> time of it lately (He has PANDAS, and we were wondering about a strep.

> infection. A new antibiotic really did make a huge difference). Last

> week, he started obsessing about being sick, and also not wanting to go

> to school. I got him to come with me one morning (I teach at his

> school) and then his teacher convinced him to come into class, but the

> following morning, he balked entirely. He is very bright and

> articulate, and is quite the character. In the end, he " got over it " ,

> but the entire conversation was just so funny, I had to share it.

>

> Son: I'm sick and I can't go to school.

>

> Me: Really?

>

> Son: Yes, (putting hands on forehead). I'm burning up with a fever

> and my stomach and my throat hurt. Also my knees are very sore. I

> can't even bend them and I can't walk. And, worst of all, when I was

> chewing my cereal, my teeth were making a funny noise and they all felt

> lose, so I am pretty sure all of my teeth are falling out.

>

> Me: It sounds a bit like you're obsessing.

>

> Son: I think I might really be sick this time.

>

> Me: I think your obsessing.

>

> Son: (gets quiet for a while, and thinks) <sigh> I guess you're right.

> Mostly old people have all their teeth fall out and get fake teeth

> anyway. Even if I'm not sick, though, I really don't want to go to

> school.

>

> Me: Are you obsessing about that too?

>

> Son: Maybe a little bit, but I'm having a lot or tics at school, and

> I'm worrying a lot about going to school, and what's the point of going

> anyway? I'm pretty much done with first grade. I know everything we

> are doing and we're not doing much new anyway. I'm ready to just retire

> from first grade.

>

> (We talk a little about the fact that he needs to go to school, and

> some of the fun things he does. We also agree to talk with his teacher

> about maybe giving him something new to learn in math. He is still not

> convinced and still doesn't want to go).

>

> Son: I'm guess I'm just one of those people who likes to have fun more

> than they like to work.

>

> Me: Lots of us are one of those people; but, this is one of those

> things where you don't have a choice. I can't leave you home alone, and

> I have to go to work and earn some money!

>

> Son: Mooommmm Don't you realize that there are some things in life

> more important than money? I think the well-being of your son is one of

> them!

>

> Me: (trying not to laugh). Well, I'm going to school. What would you

> do if you stayed home anyway?

>

> Son: I guess sitting on the couch all day and watching TV is out?

>

> Me (laughing for sure) Yes!

>

> Son: (getting his book bag) <sigh> I don't know why I have to make all

> the difficult decisions around here!

>

>

> Luckily for us his day was fine. He has really bonded with his

> teacher, and he talked with him quite a bit about the OCD and tics, and

> we seem to have weathered this storm. We've also put into his IEP that

> he will be stopping by to " visit " his school weekly during the summer,

> so he doesn't get completely out of the habit of going to school. (It

> is going to be quite the transition. His current school is closing and

> being consolidated into a new school which will be stressful enough. On

> top of that I won't be going to his school with him anymore as I will

> be staying home with a new baby sister!)

>

>

> Jeanne

> jwestpha@...

> NBCT - Exceptional Needs (2000)

>

>

>

>

> Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// .

> Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen

Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are

Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy

Mac, Gail Pesses, Kathy , Vivian Stembridge, and Jackie Stout.

Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list

owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... ,

louisharkins@... .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh Jeanne,

I didn't know my son had a clone out there somewhere!!! I have the same

child here, and we have basically the same conversation regularly. He doesn't

have OCD (although Kelley on this list thinks I'm just in denial...) but he has

plenty of OCD tendancies. He is a worrier and a hypochondriac, and extremely

intelligent and verbal. Just last night he was crying because his face " feels

kind of light " and his head feels " a bit empty, as if it has expanded but his

brain hasn't grown enough to fill it yet " . On top of that, his temples were

burning, his knees ached, and his eyes have been hurting when he closes them

(but not when he opens them) so he probably has something like pink eye

starting.

He finds new rashes on his body every half hour on a bad day, and if it's

Monday - look out. He can be incredibly dramatic and often accuses me of not

caring about my own son because I force him to attend school even with a pink

spot

on his thigh...Thankfully he has a wonderful teacher who said we could call

her any day before school and she'd talk with him about whatever is bothering

him. It's a good thing our school nurse was well-trained by my daughter (the

OCDer who spent most of second grade in her office) and has a great sense of

humor. When he shows up in her office she manages to get him to go back to

class,

and then always calls me to tell me the funny things he said, or the

outrageous reason he came up with to have to come home.

Congratulations on the baby sister! I hope she is just as entertaining!

in NV

[Guest guest]

My daughter used to get " frequent flyer miles " from her school nurse. Mostly

the same type of thing you describe. She'd call from school and say " I'm sick.

My big toe hurts, my teeth ache, there's a red spot on my leg, Can you come and

get me? " Of course, this is all complicated by the fact that she has episodes

of conversion disorder as well as multiple medical problems which are legitamate

so sometimes it's hard to be sure if there's really something going on or not.

This year she moved to a new school. There is no school nurse but kids go to

the athletic director when ill or injured. We told her at the beginning of the

year that she shouldn't be too welcoming and that she should take most of

Billie's " illnesses " with a grain of salt. I don't know exactly what she does

but it seems to be working. Billie rarely goes to her office and, when she

does, it's usually legitamate. I got a call last week from the athletic

director saying that, while warming up for a softball game, Billie got hit in

the mouth by the ball and her lip was fat and bleeding. She put Billie on the

phone.

B: " Hi Mom. "

K: " Didn't the coaches teach you that you catch with your glove and not with your

teeth? "

B: " Very funny "

K: " Do you have your uniform on? "

B: " Yes "

K: " I think you should go back out and play the game. "

B: " My head aches "

K: " Yes, but you should still play. I'm leaving work in 5 mins. so I should get

there in time to see most of the game "

B: " OK, bye. "

I couldn't have been more surprised. 6 mo. ago she would have been wailing for

me to come and get her. She will soon be 13. Dare I hope that's she's growing

out of this?

And , may I gently suggest that may be right about your little guy.

Kathy

Re: My funny son

Oh Jeanne,

I didn't know my son had a clone out there somewhere!!! I have the same

child here, and we have basically the same conversation regularly. He doesn't

have OCD (although Kelley on this list thinks I'm just in denial...) but he has

plenty of OCD tendancies. He is a worrier and a hypochondriac, and extremely

intelligent and verbal. Just last night he was crying because his face " feels

kind of light " and his head feels " a bit empty, as if it has expanded but his

brain hasn't grown enough to fill it yet " . On top of that, his temples were

burning, his knees ached, and his eyes have been hurting when he closes them

(but not when he opens them) so he probably has something like pink eye

starting.

He finds new rashes on his body every half hour on a bad day, and if it's

Monday - look out. He can be incredibly dramatic and often accuses me of not

caring about my own son because I force him to attend school even with a pink

spot

on his thigh...Thankfully he has a wonderful teacher who said we could call

her any day before school and she'd talk with him about whatever is bothering

him. It's a good thing our school nurse was well-trained by my daughter (the

OCDer who spent most of second grade in her office) and has a great sense of

humor. When he shows up in her office she manages to get him to go back to

class,

and then always calls me to tell me the funny things he said, or the

outrageous reason he came up with to have to come home.

Congratulations on the baby sister! I hope she is just as entertaining!

in NV