Every parent knows what I'm talking about. You know, when your child behaves like the little angel that he/she is until mom shows up and suddenly the devil comes out in them. I must say that the first three children only had very occasional bouts of this and knew what The Look was, and meant. This promptly took care of the devilishness. (Is that a word?)
But The Baby is a person unto his own. He can go for weeks and be the sweetest, most loving being ever created. If anyone knows anything about Downs this is true across the board to most extents. But when he's bad, he's very bad. Just like the nursery tale.
I've known for some time that he purposely chooses to make life miserable for me. I know you're thinking that I'm exaggerating but believe me when I say I've got documented evidence to the contrary. Take eating for example. The kid eats nonstop. He'll ask for something, and I'll hand it to him. As he's reaching for it he'll realize that it's mom offering it and he'll pull his hand back, scream and run from the room. Really. Daddy will take the same food - right out of my hand - and hand it to The Boy. He couldn't be happier to take it. And things like this happen all the time. Completely drives me insane, and I think that's why he continues to do it. By the time daddy comes home at the end of the day I'm ready to walk out.
So today I realized that things are worse than I thought. At speech therapy he went back to the room himself so I said I'd try staying out in the waiting room instead of joining him. At the end of the session the therapist was beaming at how well he did, how much he paid attention to the task, his level of concentration. Wow. We drove to preschool and he was screaming and holding the seatbelt onto himself. I drug him out of the van (only because I know he loves school and eagerly greets the bus at home) and the staffer who met me was shocked at his behavior. They'd never, ever seen him act like that and said he was an exemplary student. They couldn't fathom what could possibly be wrong. The Mom Factor. Grrrrr.
I'm pretty sure this is the exact reason the boy is not potty trained. He simply won't even stand up to the toilet for mom. And dad works most of the day. We were told when he was born that Downs were so compliant. I think he missed that gene.
6 comments:
That sounds so frustrating and exhausting! I'll be praying for you!
My husband and I have 'a look' we give each other when we reach that certain level of frustration. I'll have to do a post on it one of these days, with pictures of our pleasant faces in action of course!
Oh I know what you mean! Kayla listens so well at school, walks down the hallway with her class, staying in line etc. When I'm out with her somewhere she is running all over and doesn't just walk by my side, frustrating indeed!
I think it's genetic to behave differently for your mom than for everyone else. Daycare thinks Alexis is the sweetest litle girl and has literally only seen one true temper tantrum. I'm delighted if it's kept to one or two per week.
Don't you hate when people give us a blanket statement about our kids w/T21...that's just like saying, "she has blonde hair so she will....". It sounds to me like you are describing MY fourth born, Emery, who is typical. Okay, so she's NOT typical..of my girls anyway. She is by far more ornery than any of the others EVER thought about being! I actually can say that Tarenne is probably my easiest in many ways. Now Em...well had she been first, she may have been the last! HUGS
Being a mom is exhausting, stressful, and wonderful all at the same time.
Isn't it?
:)
Michelle, it's good to hear that other kids can/do act this way. I know everyone goes through times when their kids aren't wonderful but it seems that Micah is *always* running from me in the store. I haven't leashed him because I know he'll throw himself on the floor and go limp. Then there I would be, dragging him behind me. Again with the Children and Youth thing...
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