Re: /typical kid behavior?

April 10, 2000

,

You wrote:

I think one of the hardest things is

knowing when its ocd and when its typical kid/adolescent behaviour.

You are so right about this. I find I am " hyper-vigilant " with (my

allegedly non-OCD 5-yo son), always trying to figure out if he's OCD or not. The

poor kid isn't allowed much normal reassurance-seeking behavior around here. He

gets a little " stuck " on ideas. Yesterday on the way back from our camping

weekend,

my budding biologist wanted to locate a pussywillow tree so that he could find a

cutting to " plant " so we might have our own pussywillow tree. He wanted to know

when we could go find one, when we could plant it, etc. Relentless! This kid is

on fire with bugs, creatures, gardening (even has his own much-used

microscope) which is so exciting to see…as long as it doesn't cross the line to

become an obsession.

I purposely don't give him too many definites ( " maybe next weekend...we'll see. "

" Not sure where to find one. I'll have to think about it and let you know. " ) If

he keeps asking, he gets counted (a la the 1-2-3 Magic approach to discipline)

and usually quits after a " 1 " . This is perhaps a little mean for me to do

with a five-year old, but he is learning to live with more uncertainty Life's

just a constant exposure around here!

Take care,

in San Diego

P.S. Dad's even been " bossing back " his fear about performing on his guitar for

others and did some nice tunes and singing for a good-sized group around the

camp fire last weekend. We try to role model facing our own fears as much as we

can for the kids and pointing it out so they can cheer us on! I think this helps

Kelsey feel a little less like it's just her that needs " fixing. " (She gives me

extra points when I look for a short cut driving as I have no sense of direction

and am always getting lost.)

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