Comments on: Socialization 101 – Checked

By: Heidi

Heidi — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:38:13 +0000

It sounds like you handled that beautifully.

By: Shari Ellen

Shari Ellen — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:44:08 +0000

I’m so glad that going to the pool worked out for your daughter. Socialization is a scary thing for adults, too. My son struggles with it and I told him that honestly I do too. I love joining new classes at church and getting to know people, but I’m so nervous to walk over and sit down next to someone and even start a conversation.

By: April

April — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:44:35 +0000

I’m so glad to hear Sam is ‘getting out there’. I loathed social interaction at her age. Good for you for giving her the space that she needs. Good Mommy!

By: Mary (MPJ)

Mary (MPJ) — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:12:55 +0000

Yay, you for giving Miss Sam the room she needed to grow. And yay Miss Sam for moving out of her comfort zone to do some growing.

By: Bee Repartee

Bee Repartee — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:51:29 +0000

Baby steps! woohoo!! That is really outstanding.

Good luck to you in homeschooling. If you’d like some good ideas and resources let me know. ..7th grade through high school, remember?

PS. I got accepted at school this week!! I’m nearly ready for my first semester in the fall. Can you believe it?!!! I cried when I registered.

By: Candace Ireland

Candace Ireland — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:37:17 +0000

I was painfully shy at her age. I also had difficulty making friends.
I’m so glad you followed God’s prompting and trusted. That is great, for the both of you!

By: MissKris

MissKris — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:08:09 +0000

I could fill books on having a child who doesn’t follow everyone else’s ‘drummer.’ My daughter has always been uniquely herself. I think a lot of it has to do with her level of intelligence because she’s almost scary at times with how smart she is. It took her YEARS to figure out how to interact with people. At the age of almost 32, she still has problems at times because she finds it hard to relate. But, for the most part, she’s come to terms with it as well as she can. She gets depressed at times and deals with anxiety. But she’s formed a basic core of friends who accept her as she is and love her for who she is. We don’t have to have a bazillion friends in life…to me, a few excellent friends is much more satisfying than a whole bunch of surface ‘fluff’. Miss Sam will find her way, Danielle. You’re learning how important listening is, and my daughter has told me thru the years how much it’s meant to have me as a mom who has listened without passing judgment. They don’t need ‘feedback’. They just need love and acceptance. If they feel pressure from us, too…well, there is no safe space for them in this world. They need to know that we, at least, are on their side. And even if we don’t always understand what/how they’re feeling, having the security of knowing we love them just as they are gives them balance.

By: Holly Schwendiman

Holly Schwendiman — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:06:54 +0000

Yay!

Hugs,
Holly

By: Heather Young

Heather Young — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:35:37 +0000

She is way ahead of where I was at her age then. It took me until I was a mother to be in the place she is in now–it is like that for introverts, especially introverts who have been scarred by traditional forms of “socialization” for children. It will take time for her to get comfortable in her own skin again (it took me until 4 years ago.:))

By: amydeanne

amydeanne — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:11:04 +0000

you know, i have to think that’s fairly normal not to want to play with kids your own age.. i think afterall, school is the only place where you are really segregated by your age group… i was not one who played with my people my own age very well.. most of my friends are older… at least 5 years….
I am glad she did play with the other kids.. it’s scary for some of us to do that!