I think it's so funny that as parents, we spend so much time and energy in the early years teaching our children to talk... and then we get to the point where we just want them to be quiet!
Actually, that's not totally true for me. I never really spent anytime teaching Sonny Boy to talk. He's just naturally gifted in that area.
Seriously.
Not to be all bragging Mom on you guys, but my son was talking very well by 10 months of age. At his 2-year check up, his doctor asked me if he had at least 30 words in his vocabulary. I had to laugh, because in reality he had well over 300. When he was in preschool, a doctor guestimated that his vocabulary was at about the 6th grade level. The child knows how to talk. And he does it non-stop.
I should have had a clue when even in his ultrasound pictures he always had his mouth open, lol. And with a mother named Gabby, the poor kid never stood a chance!
Only now his gift has turned into a problem. Yes, he talks all the time at home. Yes, he has an opinion about everything. But when it starts to get in the way of his education... there my friends, I must draw the line.
You see, it's like this. He talks in class. He distracts other kids. He doesn't get his OWN work finished. He gets in trouble at school for it. He LIES to Hubster and I about getting in trouble at school. And then he gets in trouble at home as well.
He's currently grounded for aproximately the next 3 years. Or maybe it's 3 days. Who can keep track?
Now, some of you might be saying that it's only talking. It could be a lot worse, right? And I don't disagree with that. Is talking in school the worst thing he could be doing? No, absolutely not. Not by a long shot. He could be biting the teacher, and beating the crud out of the other kids. He could be setting the classroom on fire. He could be doing a lot of things that I am ever so grateful he's not doing.
But... the fact remains that the talking is creating a serious problem. Especially because he's lying to us about it. I mean, the kid is only 7 years old! Who know what kind of ground work his behavior right now is laying for his future. By the time he graduates from highschool, the kid could be a criminal. Or worse, a politician!
The thing about Sonny Boy is that he has never been easy. From the moment he came into the world (8 days late, and a boy instead of the girl we were expecting!), he has always had to do things in his own way. He has a very strong personality, and people tend to have pretty extreme reactions to it. They either love him or hate... and we've had both ends of the spectrum as far a teachers go. We're talking about the child that was very nearly kicked out of preschool.
Preschool.
But on the other hand, he has so many great qualities. He's bright, and funny, and can be very sweet. He's an amazing big brother, which makes up for A LOT in my book. Yes, he's strong minded, but I think that can be a good thing. He's not easily swayed by what other's think or do. He's incredibly charismatic, and I think he has a lot of great leadership qualities. Plus, as all the 7 year old girls in the neighborhood will tell you, he's super cute.
All in all, I think he has the makings of an amazing adult. If we make it that long.
I just have NO idea what to do with him in the meantime!
Any ideas, friends? I'm open to suggestions! (And also to fostering him out if any of you want him, lol.)
Toodles 'til next time,
Gabby
P.S. If you have a minute, I'd love for you to leave a comment. What do you like or dislike about this blog so far? Gimme feedback, peeps!
Actually, that's not totally true for me. I never really spent anytime teaching Sonny Boy to talk. He's just naturally gifted in that area.
Seriously.
Not to be all bragging Mom on you guys, but my son was talking very well by 10 months of age. At his 2-year check up, his doctor asked me if he had at least 30 words in his vocabulary. I had to laugh, because in reality he had well over 300. When he was in preschool, a doctor guestimated that his vocabulary was at about the 6th grade level. The child knows how to talk. And he does it non-stop.
I should have had a clue when even in his ultrasound pictures he always had his mouth open, lol. And with a mother named Gabby, the poor kid never stood a chance!
Only now his gift has turned into a problem. Yes, he talks all the time at home. Yes, he has an opinion about everything. But when it starts to get in the way of his education... there my friends, I must draw the line.
You see, it's like this. He talks in class. He distracts other kids. He doesn't get his OWN work finished. He gets in trouble at school for it. He LIES to Hubster and I about getting in trouble at school. And then he gets in trouble at home as well.
He's currently grounded for aproximately the next 3 years. Or maybe it's 3 days. Who can keep track?
Now, some of you might be saying that it's only talking. It could be a lot worse, right? And I don't disagree with that. Is talking in school the worst thing he could be doing? No, absolutely not. Not by a long shot. He could be biting the teacher, and beating the crud out of the other kids. He could be setting the classroom on fire. He could be doing a lot of things that I am ever so grateful he's not doing.
But... the fact remains that the talking is creating a serious problem. Especially because he's lying to us about it. I mean, the kid is only 7 years old! Who know what kind of ground work his behavior right now is laying for his future. By the time he graduates from highschool, the kid could be a criminal. Or worse, a politician!
The thing about Sonny Boy is that he has never been easy. From the moment he came into the world (8 days late, and a boy instead of the girl we were expecting!), he has always had to do things in his own way. He has a very strong personality, and people tend to have pretty extreme reactions to it. They either love him or hate... and we've had both ends of the spectrum as far a teachers go. We're talking about the child that was very nearly kicked out of preschool.
Preschool.
But on the other hand, he has so many great qualities. He's bright, and funny, and can be very sweet. He's an amazing big brother, which makes up for A LOT in my book. Yes, he's strong minded, but I think that can be a good thing. He's not easily swayed by what other's think or do. He's incredibly charismatic, and I think he has a lot of great leadership qualities. Plus, as all the 7 year old girls in the neighborhood will tell you, he's super cute.
All in all, I think he has the makings of an amazing adult. If we make it that long.
I just have NO idea what to do with him in the meantime!
Any ideas, friends? I'm open to suggestions! (And also to fostering him out if any of you want him, lol.)
Toodles 'til next time,
Gabby
P.S. If you have a minute, I'd love for you to leave a comment. What do you like or dislike about this blog so far? Gimme feedback, peeps!
Sounds a tad bit familiar...Raya sported the "I got an A+ in Talking" shirt for a while there. She did eventually learn there is a time and place for it. She's in six grade now...so it might take a while :)
ReplyDeleteHi, found your blog interesting. Here is an interesting but long article that might give you some ideas about pushing toward a gifted class for him. Talks about teachers not being trained to deal with precociously verbal children. Does he have other behaviors besides lying? http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10124.aspx
ReplyDeletePS. my mom was like that and never stopped talking til her last few days. She was productive and and a good advocate. I'd say she was slightly a little manic. Always made me wonder. Good luck.