When Your Preschooler's Self Esteem Is Suffering
My four year old has been having a lot of trouble in his pre-kindergarten class this year. There have been evaluations and meetings with the school and observations and we all end the same place, we just don't know what is wrong.
An Occupational Therapy evaluation showed that he had low muscle tone, but the school seems to think the problem is that he has ADHD, while no one else seems willing to diagnoses him with that. The only thing I know is that my child is changing before my eyes, and I don't like it.
The change I have noticed is to his self esteem. Michael told me this weekend, "he was dumb" and "he is always a bad boy," things I have never heard him say before. I chose this school because I thought it would be a better fit for my schedule, they had a better pre-k program, and his last school BROKE HIS HAND. But hey, I'd take a broken hand over a broken spirit any day. Broken bones heal. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it is like they are slowly killing the joy inside of him. The change I have seen in him over the past month is heartbreaking.
My husband and I went to see Where The Wild Things Are recently, as I'm sure many of you did. And Max reminded me so much of Michael, and I think he was supposed to, I think he was cast to be the "everyboy." But it was his complete and utter sadness that reminded me of Michael. How hopeless he seemed.
I will not have that for my four year old. He is bright. He is charming. He is lovely, and sweet, and a daredevil, and has a smile that could break your heart. I need to bring that smile back. As Max says in the movie, I will be "his sadness shield." I will bring my Michael back.
I'm not sure if the way to do that is to change schools, or if it requires some other means. But there is no reason for a four year old to be this sad.
Adapted for DC Metro Moms from Jodi's personal blog jodifur. Jodi writes, a lot, about being a wife, mother, attorney, and everything in between. You can also follow Jodi on twitter.
