Hi everyone,
I've been lurking on these forums for quite sometime, though haven't posted. I've suspected my DS4 is gifted for some time, but he hasn't been tested, and thus far I haven't seen any reason to move forward with testing.
Lately he's been acting out of control sensitive... I almost don't know how to explain to the point where you get the full effect or understand my exact frustration, but I don't know if it is his personality, or if he is just spoiled and mad because he's not getting his way. I don't know how to react. I don't want to be insensitive to his feelings if he's really struggling with changes, but I also don't want to give in to his unnecessary/illogical wants if he's just throwing a tantrum to get his way. It makes me feel that I don't know him well at all, and it also makes me afraid to have anyone look after him (babysitter, summer camp, he'll be attending kindergarten in the fall) I'm half-terrified he will be labeled as a "problem" child.
Here are some examples: DD2 had a balloon that was half deflated. She was playing with it and rubbing her hands on it, and it made that rubbery-squealing sound balloons make. DS started screaming, "NO NO I DONT LIKE THAT SOUND, STOP!" Getting really upset. A similar event happened a few days ago, when DD was wearing boots and rubbing/turning the rubber bottoms of the boots against the wood floor, making a similar sound. DS again got so upset.
Some things I can understand his getting upset at, (some examples of these: having to eat carrots that are "too crunchy" instead of cooked carrots, not being able to buy a toy at the toy store, dropping his toy on the floor of the car and not being able to get it back immediately because he can't reach and I am driving and can't get it). Like I said, I can understand the upset reaction, but it's his level of upset-ness that scares me. It's this shrill, screaming, nearly inconsolable cry that lasts a long time. One day last week, he cried in his bed, inconsolable, for 15 minutes because he had thought we were having sushi for dinner, and then found we were not.
In the past, when he was little, he was always really sensitive to stuff: sticky things on his fingers, walking in the sand on the beach in bare feet, walking in the grass in the yard in bare feet, almost any sort of abrupt or unknown sound, other things that I just can't remember. He's not sensitive too these things anymore.
Things he was and is still sensitive to: seeing/walking near/touching dead patches of grass in the summer/spring or the look/feel of dried seaweed when walking on the beach (cries if he touches either on accident when trying to jump over a patch, or if there is too much and he can't get around it), tags in his clothing, etc.
I'm so sorry this is getting very long. My son is very smart and can be very sweet and helpful, but is becoming increasingly headstrong and difficult about getting what he wants or not doing what he doesn't want. He is homeschooled now, and I'm concerned about him starting at public school next year. He did half a year of preschool and had problems, so we took him out.
Overall, I feel like I am failing him and raising an unhappy child and it's making me so sad. :crying: :crying:
Advice? Or maybe I'm just venting, or want someone to say "No advice, but you're not alone." Anything, please.
I've been lurking on these forums for quite sometime, though haven't posted. I've suspected my DS4 is gifted for some time, but he hasn't been tested, and thus far I haven't seen any reason to move forward with testing.
Lately he's been acting out of control sensitive... I almost don't know how to explain to the point where you get the full effect or understand my exact frustration, but I don't know if it is his personality, or if he is just spoiled and mad because he's not getting his way. I don't know how to react. I don't want to be insensitive to his feelings if he's really struggling with changes, but I also don't want to give in to his unnecessary/illogical wants if he's just throwing a tantrum to get his way. It makes me feel that I don't know him well at all, and it also makes me afraid to have anyone look after him (babysitter, summer camp, he'll be attending kindergarten in the fall) I'm half-terrified he will be labeled as a "problem" child.
Here are some examples: DD2 had a balloon that was half deflated. She was playing with it and rubbing her hands on it, and it made that rubbery-squealing sound balloons make. DS started screaming, "NO NO I DONT LIKE THAT SOUND, STOP!" Getting really upset. A similar event happened a few days ago, when DD was wearing boots and rubbing/turning the rubber bottoms of the boots against the wood floor, making a similar sound. DS again got so upset.
Some things I can understand his getting upset at, (some examples of these: having to eat carrots that are "too crunchy" instead of cooked carrots, not being able to buy a toy at the toy store, dropping his toy on the floor of the car and not being able to get it back immediately because he can't reach and I am driving and can't get it). Like I said, I can understand the upset reaction, but it's his level of upset-ness that scares me. It's this shrill, screaming, nearly inconsolable cry that lasts a long time. One day last week, he cried in his bed, inconsolable, for 15 minutes because he had thought we were having sushi for dinner, and then found we were not.
In the past, when he was little, he was always really sensitive to stuff: sticky things on his fingers, walking in the sand on the beach in bare feet, walking in the grass in the yard in bare feet, almost any sort of abrupt or unknown sound, other things that I just can't remember. He's not sensitive too these things anymore.
Things he was and is still sensitive to: seeing/walking near/touching dead patches of grass in the summer/spring or the look/feel of dried seaweed when walking on the beach (cries if he touches either on accident when trying to jump over a patch, or if there is too much and he can't get around it), tags in his clothing, etc.
I'm so sorry this is getting very long. My son is very smart and can be very sweet and helpful, but is becoming increasingly headstrong and difficult about getting what he wants or not doing what he doesn't want. He is homeschooled now, and I'm concerned about him starting at public school next year. He did half a year of preschool and had problems, so we took him out.
Overall, I feel like I am failing him and raising an unhappy child and it's making me so sad. :crying: :crying:
Advice? Or maybe I'm just venting, or want someone to say "No advice, but you're not alone." Anything, please.