Jamie = No More Soccer & Bullies

I know this is not teaching my child about following through, but maybe there's a lesson in there for me (to just listen more often) and for him (speak up more often). It all started with him, again, telling us he's having problems at school. He's been acting really horrible lately about school work, about getting up to go to school, everything. We even had a call from the teacher. She was concerned as well, he actually acted out angrily (not against another child - he stabbed his pencil box with his pencil and stomped around). That is NOT how Jamie acts. There were several things going on - he thought we weren't being fair with some things, he was over-reacting and taking these too literally, his bully is back at it again with a friend this time, just a bunch of little things.

So, we talked. I can fix everything except for the bully. I tried to tell him to walk away, tell a teacher, but these are things he says he has done - sometimes. Apparently the school likes the kids to "all be friends" and "like everyone". Great, right? Yeah, well not when 2 other kids are pushing you (not hard from what I can gather) playing chase when you don't want to, taunting you and calling you names. I'm sorry, I firmly believe that you do NOT have to be friends with everyone. There are people in this world I do not want to be friends with and that's just how it is. I'm sure there are people that don't wanna be friends with me either. He is really worried about getting one of his "friends" in trouble. Finally, I told him to maybe ask his counselor for some ideas. He said he did ask the teacher if he could talk to someone and she said later this week. Tom is going up there as well.

If that doesn't work, my friend Denise and I are going up there and beating the snot out of those little 7 year olds. We can take 'em.

I realize my kid is an easy target. For those of you that don't know him, he (and this isn't all mom talking) is one of the sweetest, most sincere, loving little boys in the entire world. He's very much a thinker and not a doer. He works out problems in his head. He wants everyone to like him and wants to make everyone happy. He doesn't like playing rough and he doesn't like mean words. There's a reason I call him my little love bug. He really is.

So, this has been happening. We also kind of made him play soccer this season. He didn't want to, but we forgot to disenroll him and he (Mr. People Pleaser) agreed to do one more season. Well, he's hating it. He likes talking with the other kids and playing with them, he just doesn't like all the shoving and running around and frankly, he's not that athletic. Again, he's my thinker!

Anyway... so his game this weekend kind of annoyed me. I felt like I spent more time telling him to pay attention or to stop chasing bees or examining the weeds. And it's just been bad all season. So, we found out that Lego Mindstorms starts soon and we've pulled him out. I think the Lego thing will be much more up his alley. He gets to build something and think through stuff. At this age bracket, they just build. In a year or two, if he decides to stick with it, they will start programming them and having competitions. He's excited about it. I just hope he really likes it. If not, he wants to try Karate next. But I have a good feeling about the Mindstorms. It's collaborative with a small group and no one is running or shoving.

Of course, this does mean that I am going to have to get that indoor lens, honey.... *laugh* Okay, Okay... no lens... *sniffle*
*HINT HINT HINT HINT* (Mother's day is coming up, by the way) *HINT HINT HINT HINT*

I've told him that if he does the Mindstorms at the YMCA and participates well, I will see if we can't get him a set for his birthday or Christmas (The YMCA provides the kits). Note to all family members: It's expensive so I may be asking for a "go in together gift" LOL.

Anyway, so here are pictures from his last game... interesting that they kind of tell the story of how he "plays" so I'll kind of talk you through his thought processes. ;)

This is Jamie's favorite part. Sitting here talking to the other kids picking grass.




This is what he does on the field most of the time. I'm not sure if he's pretending to be a robot here or dancing. He does both.


I would love to say he looks like this the whole time:


Instead he makes his 5 kicks of the ball in the game (I said it once and now he figures if he kicks it 5 times, he's done) -- See... he even keeps count and tells me...


So, goodbye, soccer... we'll still be there every week for Cassie, but Jamie's gonna be playing with robots, dude!


If you've made it this far... we're a little worried that Jamie might be depressed... I know that sounds silly. He's SEVEN! But he keeps telling us no one likes him and he doesn't like himself and he's stupid. These seems to be the same words his bullies are using though... ugh. This mommy stuff is hard work.

Hehehe... Tom and I are sick... we keep calling him Emo Kid when he talks like that. Here's a video to make you giggle:


"You're not the only one with issues!" *snicker*