REBLOG: Why Blog?

Someone asked me, why blog?  Why do you blog if no one reads it?

There are two answers to this...

One, because I have 13 followers for the blog itself and 100+ member in the Overcoming being Overwhelmed group on Facebook. So while I guess I am not the most popular blog out there, I get read (even if its only by mostly my family and friends...Thank you btw!).

Two, I've been writing since I was in grade school. Poetry, short stories, diaries... It is something I need to do.  Sometimes it is just to clear my head.  Other times I simply have something I want to say or a funny story to share. When HistoryBoy was little, I wrote short stories for him about my childhood and my dog Ginger, most of which actually featured my little brother, Engineer.  (Maybe I should share those stories. LOL).

The long and the short of is I like to write, sometimes LOVE it, and sometimes simply have to. Without this particular media, I would be simply publishing my ideas in my journal possibly sharing with some friends. This allows me to share with a lot more people, and if anyone gets something out of it, if I help even one person, then that's AWESOME.

Healing the Hurt

I remember History Boy coming home from school not understanding why the other kids weren't his friends.  He thought of them as his friends.  I think that says it all. He sees everybody as good, or at least he used to.  He is getting used to being bullied and knows that those children are not his friends.  It is especially hard when one of the children used to be his friend several years ago.  They were in all the same classes and go along great.  Now the child calls him names and History Boy is at a loss.  What did he do wrong?...

How do I tell him and make him understand that he  did nothing wrong.  I can say it a hundred times but he still has to deal with it.  I have tried to help him with facial expressions, hoping he'll be able to tell when someone really doesn't want to hear what he has to say.  However, trying to turn off the flow of information in History Boy once it has started is virtually impossible.  I love that he loves to learn and wants to share his knowledge.  I'm a teacher, the teacher in me rejoices, but the mom in me knows that this is what hurts him. This is what makes it hard for other children to understand him.  Most kids don't want to know about WWII, the Titanic, Pompeii and other such topics.


He always wows adults with his knowledge and his willingness to learn more about a topic.  He can watch video after video or read book after book about the same topic. To the right is a pic of the book he is currently reading. It is three books in one, Marine Mysteries and Dramatic Disasters of New England, Sea disasters and inland catastrophes, and Pirates, Shipwrecks, and Historic Chronicles. Sound like History Boy anyone?  LOL.  He can converse with adults about such topics, although his opinions are if he watched it or heard it on the History Channel, it must be true, so... watch out. He constantly amazes me, but that still doesn't give me the answers I need to help him.

Here is an article which has some helpful info in it. I found it comforting to know that at least according to these tips, I was doing what I needed to be there for him, even if it doesn't feel like it.



Below is one of the pics I used with History Boy to help with facial expressions.
If it helps you too, you are welcome to it.

Emotions Handout (below is a pic of what it looks like)

Saturday Fun Means Sunday Sucks

This past Saturday was a great day for several reasons. We started off the day as usual. HistoryBoy had karate. Then my good friend Kathy came down to visit. We see each other maybe once a year if we are lucky. We went to college together and she currently lives in Connecticut so it is tough to get together often. But it was so great to see her. We has breakfast, early lunch at Popeye's. LOL

We then went our community town fair. It turned out to be a gorgeous day. We didn't expect it to be so warm or so sunny, otherwise I would have had sunscreen and possibly an umbrella. I think I melted. I pushed myself because I wanted to spend time with Kathy and I promised HistoryBoy that he could ride the ride. Ok, so by the time we got through the booths to the rides I was so done in, he got to chose 3 rides but he was good about it. Kathy had to leave to go meet up with her family and I had to went home and CRASHED.

On Sunday, I couldn't even get out of bed. Ok, I got out of bed to go to the bathroom, none o us wanted to deal with THAT. But otherwise, I was in bed. I was so sore, so achy. My head hurt.

It's the same story again and again. I think you have read it before. I have a nice day. Then an sucky day or two or three. How to avoid it is what I want to know? But would I trade the time I spent with my friend? Or the enjoyment of watching my son play with his friends?

I need a little button like a Thanksgiving turkey that says your done, stop now and you will be fine, no repercussions. I can tell when I am getting tired, don't get me wrong, and I know when I am pushing the envelope and stealing tomorrow's spoons, but I know I didn't steal a week's worth of spoons so what gives? I am just feeling a little frustrated. The answers are NO, I wouldn't trade any of these moments, I just have to get my body to keep up.

The AMAZING Doodle

I don't know why it tickled me so much that I wanted to write about this but I think it is pretty funny and cute.

When we spent the weekend with Ariel and Eric in June, I got to spend some time with Doodle. On Sunday, when I woke up from my nap, I found that Ariel and her mom had comes gone shopping without me to Target, one of my FAVE stores. I was disappointed that she hadn't woken me up but I had probably needed my sleep.

A few minutes later, Doodle comes in and asks wheretha her mom is. I tell her that she went to Target with her Grandmom. Doodle turns to me with her big blue eyes and a pout and says "She went to Target without us?" I said Yes. "But she know that is one of my favorite stores." It is one of my favorites too. I also like Kohls. "Kohls is good but we don't live near one anymore so now Target is my favorite. They have cool clothes and shoes."

Somebody's mom taught them this important things in life. Oh, did I forget to mention that Doodle is only 8?

Until tomorrow (hopefully)

Feel free to leave a comment or email me at teenahope@gmail.com

More of HistoryBoy and HyperGirl

I recently found out that HyperGirl is the only person in the entire world that HistoryBoy is afraid to say no to. Let me give you the scenario.

My hubby, Angus, loves all stuff techy, so we have a new front door lock that has a key but also a numerical code you can use to enter which is cool. We gave the code to HistoryBoy with VERY strict instruction that he keep the code to himself because we didn't want anyone in the house while we were gone, etc.

Several weeks go by, no problems, then HistoryBoy misses a day of school and we come home from the pediatrician and our front door is ajar and the day's homework assignments are sitting on the sofa. I asked HistoryBoy if he had given the door code to anyone, he said no one, but he wouldn't look at me, which isn't completely unusual but when I asked him to look at me he still wouldn't, so I KNEW something was up.

Ok HistoryBoy, how did HyperGirl get the door code? "Maybe she watched me type it in?" Is that what happened? Look, I am not yelling, I am trying not to get mad, but you need to tell me how she got the code. "She made me tell her" Ok how did she make you, what did she do? "She said if I didn't tell her she wouldn't be my friend anymore."

I took HistoryBoy by the hand and sat him down and I said Do you really think HyperGirl wouldn't play with you anymore? I think she would have gotten mad at you and gone home, sure but tomorrow she would have been back just like always. She was just trying to be bossy like she can be sometimes, right? HistoryBoy thought about it. "She does get mad sometimes and go home, but she always comes back."

I also had a talk with HyperGirl about using her friendship as leverage against HistoryBoy and told her Dad about it so he would talk to her about it too. But they are 10, and testing the waters and up until now HistoryBoy has shared everything with HyperGirl, so she was angry that he wouldn't share this one seemingly small thing with her. But like he said "She does get mad sometimes and go home, but she always comes back." That's what friends do.

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at teenahope@gmail.com

The Importance of Friends: HistoryBoy and HyperGirl

If I haven’t mentioned before, HistoryBoy’s best friend is HyperGirl. They are peas in a pod. Forest Gump would say that are just like Peas and Carrots. They have been friends since we moved here about 7 years ago. At 3 years old, kids don’t care about whether you are a boy or a girl, at least HistoryBoy didn’t. He only cared that she liked Thomas trains. So a beautiful friendship began.

HistoryBoy describes HyperGirl as the female version of himself. And what is great about their friendship is that they give each other the space they need. HyperGirl says to me, HistoryBoy is having a meltdown, I’m going home. Or HistoryBoy comes home from her house saying HyperGirl is being too HyperGirly. They know each other’s limitation and quirks and don’t judge. It’s great. And when they have cooled off, they are off playing again, maybe later that same day or the next day.

HistoryBoy and HyperGirl are together most days after school, playing outside on nice days or rainy days indoors on the Wii. They are protective of each other. No one messes with one of them if the other is there. So they both feel safe

We have been lucky that HistoryBoy found such a good friend. It is very hard for HistoryBoy to be comfortable around kids his own age, and make friends. We are working on his social skills, but I think HyperGirl is a HUGE part of the development of those skills because he isn’t afraid to interact with her and tell her “No I don’t want to do that,” or “I want to play this.” I don’t think HistoryBoy’s social skills would be as good without her. If you aren’t as lucky as me to have a HyperGirl, look for a support group, at least one parent should have a child your age or close to it, and hopefully will be able to interact successfully with your child.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at teenahope@gmail.com