Comments on: I am starting to become concerned… https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27292 Jody Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:41:33 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27292 You re-iterate a variation of my method of operation. More times than I can count I ask my granddaughter..."How do you feel about that?" She was taken aback at first, but as she gets older she is understanding the question with greater clarity. I want my legacy with her to be ..."You can say anything to me, and I will not judge you." ...and feel safe doing so. You re-iterate a variation of my method of operation.

More times than I can count I ask my granddaughter…”How do you feel about that?”

She was taken aback at first, but as she gets older she is understanding the question with greater clarity.

I want my legacy with her to be …”You can say anything to me, and I will not judge you.”
…and feel safe doing so.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27291 Jody Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:34:34 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27291 My sweet granddaughter makes me a better person. The love I have for her is greater than myself. My sweet granddaughter makes me a better person.

The love I have for her is greater than myself.

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27268 DanS Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:20:07 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27268 A darling child, a darling grandma, a darling story. I'd say she's in good hands. A darling child, a darling grandma, a darling story.

I’d say she’s in good hands.

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27165 DanS Sat, 28 Sep 2013 00:56:58 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27165 Such a simple thing to pique one's curiosity, and it could even be fun. It might be difficult to get started, but, with persistance, both sides could win. The most important question in the world is not who, what, when, where, or how. Now -- why is that so? Cheers Such a simple thing to pique one’s curiosity, and it could even be fun. It might be difficult to get started, but, with persistance, both sides could win. The most important question in the world is not who, what, when, where, or how. Now — why is that so?
Cheers

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27042 TB Wed, 25 Sep 2013 04:10:22 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27042 There is nothing more valuable to a child than the time and attention a caretaker spends on them. Nothing. There is nothing more valuable to a child than the time and attention a caretaker spends on them.

Nothing.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27041 Jody Wed, 25 Sep 2013 03:02:11 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27041 Thank you, Tom. Thank you, Tom.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27040 Jody Wed, 25 Sep 2013 03:01:37 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27040 Ava has not been the same since she came back from Boston this summer. A VERY domineering step mother and a submissive father...so fucking cliche`. a new step brother due in October up there. Ava has not been the same since she came back from Boston this summer. A VERY domineering step mother and a submissive father…so fucking cliche`. a new step brother due in October up there.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27039 Jody Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:57:15 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27039 ...and pine cones..bought acrylic paint today and told her we were gonna paint acorns to look like people...with pine cone bodies...that seemed to open her eyes. (Note to self) Bought a purple mum plant today so she can learn how to care for it, and reap the reward of growing something. We live on a postage stamp size lot so we are quite limited. Bought her a child's Singer sewing machine. I have one and she seems to want to learn...we shall see...it was only twenty dollars, if it turns out to be a bust. I have an easel..canvas..bought a dry erase board also for the easel, so I could help her with math problems,..she seemed to like me being a teacher in this way.. I printed out coloring pages that I had no idea they offered online...that peaked her curiosity. She wants to join a club after school tomorrow where they just basically run around the gym and walk around the block...re directing immeasurable energy. I promised her I would stay and help. My boot straps are mightily worn from pulling myself up. Gratitude, Jody. Gratitude. Staying sane after all these years..:) …and pine cones..bought acrylic paint today and told her we were gonna paint acorns to look like people…with pine cone bodies…that seemed to open her eyes. (Note to self)
Bought a purple mum plant today so she can learn how to care for it, and reap the reward of growing something. We live on a postage stamp size lot so we are quite limited.
Bought her a child’s Singer sewing machine. I have one and she seems to want to learn…we shall see…it was only twenty dollars, if it turns out to be a bust.
I have an easel..canvas..bought a dry erase board also for the easel, so I could help her with math problems,..she seemed to like me being a teacher in this way..
I printed out coloring pages that I had no idea they offered online…that peaked her curiosity. She wants to join a club after school tomorrow where they just basically run around the gym and walk around the block…re directing immeasurable energy. I promised her I would stay and help.
My boot straps are mightily worn from pulling myself up.

Gratitude, Jody. Gratitude. Staying sane after all these years..:)

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27023 bowser Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:27:50 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27023 Most kids from that age up through their teens handle depression by being hyperactive, not malaise. An obvious question is this is a little kid. Where is it's mother and father? Does it get bounced from place to place and parental figure to parental figure? Is there any continuity in it's various environments, so there are friends and interests it can pursue without regular disruption? It may simply sense there is no reason to get interested in anything, because in a little while that access will be shut off. No sense making friends because they will be gone in a little while. That can hurt a kid looking for security. And it might be wise to have someone she trusts and is not dependent upon, not mom or dad or grandma, simply ask her. She may well talk with an aunt or uncle she likes. Most kids from that age up through their teens handle depression by being hyperactive, not malaise.

An obvious question is this is a little kid. Where is it’s mother and father? Does it get bounced from place to place and parental figure to parental figure? Is there any continuity in it’s various environments, so there are friends and interests it can pursue without regular disruption?

It may simply sense there is no reason to get interested in anything, because in a little while that access will be shut off. No sense making friends because they will be gone in a little while. That can hurt a kid looking for security.

And it might be wise to have someone she trusts and is not dependent upon, not mom or dad or grandma, simply ask her. She may well talk with an aunt or uncle she likes.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2013/09/23/i-am-starting-to-become-concerned/#comment-27021 TB Tue, 24 Sep 2013 04:21:18 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=38209#comment-27021 <p>Every kid, even in the same family, is drastically different.</p> And how they are raised is only a part of it, maybe a small one. Watch the kid carefully. See if there's something you can gently tune her into. Musical instruments? Dance classes? Writing songs? Making videos? Does she have access to a computer? What does she do there? What do her friends do? What are her grades like? Some kids have different drummers, and some have their own entire band. This is not necessarily a terrible thing. In recent years, too much of this kind of erratic energy has been diagnosed as Something Wrong With That Kid, and often the universal remedy is some kind of prescription. Be careful out there. And thank the good Lord someone like you has the luxury of the time to be there for her. Every kid, even in the same family, is drastically different.

And how they are raised is only a part of it, maybe a small one.

Watch the kid carefully. See if there’s something you can gently tune her into. Musical instruments? Dance classes? Writing songs? Making videos? Does she have access to a computer? What does she do there? What do her friends do? What are her grades like?

Some kids have different drummers, and some have their own entire band. This is not necessarily a terrible thing.

In recent years, too much of this kind of erratic energy has been diagnosed as Something Wrong With That Kid, and often the universal remedy is some kind of prescription. Be careful out there.

And thank the good Lord someone like you has the luxury of the time to be there for her.

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