It seems as though from birth boys are almost “expected” to be raised rough and tough. Callused . If they are sensitive, they are “sissies”. If their feelings get hurt easily or they’re too shy, they are “wussies”. I have a HUGE problem with people who have this mindset.
My son has been showing signs of hyper sensitivity for months now. He gets so easily overwhelmed and upset in social situations. Even if we’re around family, and I explain who everyone is and talk to him about what to expect days prior, it never fails; if he hasn’t seen them in quite some time, he becomes hysterical. He screams and cries if anyone speaks to him or looks at him.
I’ll use this Mother’s Day at my Mama’s house as an example…
He hadn’t seen my siblings since Christmas. Although they recognized to give him space, I know they can’t help but try to interact with him because they love him. It didn’t matter that they were in a very familiar environment to him, he still screamed and cried.
He also is hyper sensitive to noise. He cried hearing the power wheels jeep that my nephew was driving around. This prompted my sister and mother to ask my nephew not to drive the jeep around Everett.
Seeing disappointment on the face of a child not being able to do something they enjoy, breaks my heart.
Seeing my son scream and cry from being around people I love and who love him, breaks my heart.
I feel like everyone is looking at me like I need to quit “coddling” him, quit holding him close when he’s upset and scared and uncomfortable. I feel judged. I feel like I’m doing something wrong.
Quarantine hasn’t helped this situation. Recently, I had to take him in two different Dollar Generals to try and find something I was looking for and he cried the whole time he saw people (some didn’t even have masks on and he still got upset). When the cashier looks at me and says, “Oh, is he tired?”, I just nod in agreement because they couldn’t possibly understand. I haven’t been able to take him into a grocery store or the library in months; places he was just becoming comfortable going where people acknowledged him and he didn’t cry. We went to a friend’s house for dinner one afternoon and the second her husband said a mere, “Hello” to Everett, he got so upset he wouldn’t breathe and I had to blow in his face!
I have several friends who have reassured me that this is just a phase; they’ve had children who went through this.
And, I know they’re right.
It’s just hard right now.
Parenting is hard!
Sigh.
Something sweet Everett has been doing is understanding when someone is sad, they need a hug.
He has these little emotion “pogs” (90s friends- I don’t know how else to describe the little chips- ha!) that have babies making different faces on them. You know, things like sad, excited, mad, happy, etc. Well, whenever we get to the sad one, I copy the baby’s face and say with a pout, “sad”. He frowns and comes over to give me a hug. THE SWEETEST.
I love my little cuddlebug!
Anyway, here’s some recent photos. No, they aren’t all smiley ones. I never ask him to smile or say cheese. I love his emotions, his natural curiosity. :)
