What's to be done with a child who rarely wants to leave the house and isn't all that concerned with having friends? D has one friend here in this state, sees him every Tuesday and once in a while on other days. He claims to be content with that, resists all efforts to get him involved with other people in any way, shape, or form. Because I know him pretty well, I know that he intensely dislikes change. I also know that he often is happy after being forced to do something uncomfortable and he is grateful that I 'made' him do it. If that was his reaction every time, there would be no question but it isn't.
He said he wanted to go to public school again last week. This is a new state, new school, new people. Major change. I go back and forth on the idea; I'm worried about the social aspect for one, a bunch of 13 year olds is not my ideal for character development! Would the risk be worth it for him to at least interact with others? He's not a "loner", when he's in a group that he's gotten to know, he's quite outgoing and friendly. Still, I didn't really know if he wanted school for friends (and girls?), if he was worried about getting a good education (yeah, I know, not likely, but I had to consider it), was I boring him horribly and a classroom would be better?
His stated reason left me baffled. He wants to go back to ps because then I'll be "on his side". Working at home, doing work I assign him pits me against him in his mind. He wants to have a common enemy so he can complain and whine about nonsensical assignments without it being an insult to me!
I'm half-convinced that this is the real reason. He agreed that he misses the opportunity to joke around with other boys, being a young, rowdy male without offending anyone; I thought that might be a big part of it but he clearly hadn't thought of it before. When I first mentioned it as something he may feel he's missing, he said no, then stopped and thought about it, and agreed that that would be a benefit.
I really don't quite know what to think. He's old enough to have input into his own life but I still have to make the final decision. He's usually quite pragmatic, when I told him the school here starts at 7:45 a.m., he didn't think going would be worth it!
Disclosure
This policy is valid from May 2008
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation, which may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Most are not sponsored even if they sound like they are!
Even when I do receive compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation, which may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Most are not sponsored even if they sound like they are!
Even when I do receive compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org