Following the path of those before? Or venturing out on new territory?

We're struggling with Gabriel right now. As I sit here to type this I'm actually at a loss as to where to go from here or how to best handle the situation. I'm not sure if its just normal child stuff, if he's just going through a phase, or if he's following in Dallas's footsteps and possibly starting to show us signs of his having ADD, or something of the like. I just don't know. And the not knowing why, or how, or what to do is the hardest part about being a parent some times.

Gabriel has been acting up lately. Its common things like not listening to us, talking back, being mean to his siblings, lying, etc. All things that we've chalked up to a normal 6 1/2 year old boy. Its behaviors we've seen out of Dallas, and we've watched him grow through most of them. (really, what kid out grows the talking back!!!) But there's a difference with Gabriel. When Dallas would tease someone, or be mean, he would STOP the second he knew the other person was upset, or didn't like it. Dallas didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Gabriel on the other hand could care less. He'll keep going, and push it way too far. He just doesn't seem to care that the other person has had enough. He just thinks he's being funny.

They have a "light system" in his class. Its shaped like a stop light, and your goal is to stay on Green. If you hit red, you're off to stop and learn. (the in school detention I've talked about before) Gabe's been teetering on the edge all week. Some of the days it sounds like his teacher just has less patients than others, and in fact she's said as much to me. Some days she just doesn't have the patients for it. She has a class with SEVERAL high needs kids and it sounds like its getting to her a little. Either way, Gabe went to stop and learn today. I didn't get a call explaining why, actually I didn't know anything about it until Dallas blabbed. Gabe had taken the white slip out of his bag and shown Dallas. He didn't even tell me. Just came in the car like nothing was wrong. When he showed Dallas it sounded like he was bragging about something he'd made in school. So I didn't pay attention. Then Dallas blurted out what Gabe had done. ANd I was FURIOUS! To BRAG??? Grrr. Turns out he got it for talking in class, not following directions, making noises, and not getting ready when he was supposed to. All in all it was for just being disruptive to the class.

We had to go to Target after school, so I informed him that when the other kids got to pick out a treat he would not. He didn't seem to mind, until we got to the register and he realized the twins were picking out fruit snacks, and Dallas some chips. They NEVER get to do this so it REALLY sunk in how uncool what happened was. He realized that doing something naughty does NOT equal rewards. When we got home, he got to have a banana while the other kids ate their "treat". He was pretty unhappy. BUt you know, it sunk in. FINALLY!!!


I don't know where we're going to need to go from here with this. We have conferences in a couple weeks, so we'll get to sit face to face with the teacher and hear what's really been going on.


Its hard work to be a mom. A parent in general I guess.

I'll update as things go.