Intense children a gift? Of course they are. All children are gifts...
But as with many gifts (think the socks and underwear we got as gifts as children) they are not always appreciated unless you make an effort to appreciate them. Diamonds in the rough, hidden gems, burried treasure.
Since I started this blog it seems all I've done is whine and complain about tantrums, meltdowns, inflexibility, emotional rollercoasters and emotional intensity. I suppose I was trying to get across to anyone who doesn't know what an intense child is like, a day in the life of.
What I haven't spent much time on is the positive side. It's a little hard to see sometimes but it's there.
When the Dervish is happy he's contageous. He's silly and sparkly and energy just seems to be shooting from his skin.
Intensity also means focus.
That means a 6 year old that will sit with a box of knex and a picture and work for an hour to reconstruct the picture and then take it all apart and do it again.
Intensity means a child who will sit with a book and copy the words out of it in an attempt to teach himself to read. (he is in a second language immersion program and they don't teach english reading yet, but he's determined to learn anyway).
Focus means a 3 year old that will insist that his training wheels come off his 2 wheeler and then take off and ride without them like he's been doing it forever.
Intensity equals determination. Determination is a 5 year old that is so intent on making a shot in the "big net" that he stands outside for hours at a time, failing over and over again for day after day until he finally makes a shot and then keeps at it until he can make the shot almost every time.
Did all these things go smoothly? Not a chance. Emotional outbursts, frustration, meltdowns were present in every one of these to one extent or another. During the basketball focus I thought I'd go crazy because he wanted to not only make the shot, he wanted to be able to slam dunk, all 3'9" of him!
But you have to admire that level of determination and that "never say die" attitude. I know it's going to take him places in his life that those of a more relaxed nature may never venture.
Right on little dude... BRING IT!
Comments
Tue, 01.02.2011 15:28
In regards to the sentiment that teachers are in the lower 25% of college graduates, being an educator makes me a member [...]
Tue, 03.08.2010 08:59
Thank you, we're not alone! My daughter will be 5 soon and she's crying ALL THE TIME at school. The teachers are [...]
Thu, 29.04.2010 08:12
THANK YOU! My son is 5 and has been a pretty emotional child. My father-in-law passed away about a year and half ago and [...]
Thu, 11.03.2010 14:08
EVERYONE PLEASE LISTEN. Now that I have your attention. My 2nd grader is currently being bullied by his teacher. [...]
Wed, 17.02.2010 09:05
I know you posted this forever ago, but if you're still out there I would love to here how things turned out, if the [...]
Wed, 10.02.2010 18:47
if teachers were paid an appropriate salary for the level of education and effort required, you could get rid of these [...]
Wed, 16.12.2009 07:53
I have a 7 yr old step daughter that comes from a mother who has alot a mental health issues, tho my daughter seems to [...]
Tue, 27.10.2009 10:48
Child Behavior Modification is so tough. There are moments that yelling at them is not enough. Tantrums in toddlers [...]
Thu, 17.09.2009 16:26
I appreciate your sharing of this situation and applaud your directness with the principle that your goal is to remove [...]
Sat, 29.08.2009 17:03
Hi there, I am totally with you with the no spanking. I was telling my mum the other day about my 2.4yr old son hitting [...]
Mon, 06.04.2009 20:06
My seven year old son cries alot. I can completly relate with the parent. It is something you worry about when [...]
Tue, 24.02.2009 16:31
This is great stuff! My husband and I were wondering what was happenig to our son who just turned 7. He was very tough [...]
Sat, 03.01.2009 23:49
Thanks for the article, It was important to hear the part about not bottling up emotions otherwise later in life, that [...]
Wed, 24.12.2008 00:11
my two year old daughter cries all the time and i don't know what is wrong.she gets up at night and scamming and then [...]
Wed, 12.11.2008 21:10
I did this one time, my kids had slept over at a friend's house and were up 'til all hours and super crabby the next [...]