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Mental illness vs. Philanthropy
Tue Apr 02 2002

We have a neighbor who is home with her two small children while her husband is working elsewhere in the world right now. I would imagine this situation is becoming more and more prevalent with the current world circumstances.

My #1 son noticed that the lawn in her yard looked like it had not been mowed yet this year (we have mowed ours about a half a dozen times already). He commented on it and I let him know her situation. About 30 minutes later I hear a lawn mower. #1 son had gone to her door and commented on her lawn, then volunteered to do it for her free (he normally charges $5 per average sized lawn).

This is the same son who is currently suspended for "other than appropriate behavior at school". I have teachers and school staff telling me what a horrible child I have, but they never see this side of him. They comment on, but don't seem to take in account that he is reading 6 years above his level. He gets bored when he is so far ahead of his classmates and has to wait for them to catch up with him. You would think his grades would reflect this? No, he is so bored that the grades actually appear that he is far below grade level. Unfortunately because of his social behavior issues, he is not able to be in a class which offers material at his intellectual level. The teachers know this. I know this. Still the teachers throw up their hands and proclaim not to know what to do.

Unfortunately with #1 he lives in extremes. He is either extremely good, or extremely not good. There does not seem to be a middle ground. This is what has the doctors suspecting, but not committing to, a bipolar diagnosis. This is also what prevents him from being able to succeed in school.

The social philanthropic behavior is typical when #1 is in an upswing mood. Unfortunately there are no school credits available for good behavior and community service when away from school.

Too bad.

7 Comments
  • From:
    ArwensLight (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    He sounds a whole lot like me actually, my grades were always crap, and I got in trouble at school... then we found out I was ADD and gifted LD. And I had depression, which was hindering my progress. Maybe you should get him tested? (Child psychologists will do it...) I'm glad I found out, but it would have been soooo much easier had I found out BEFORE my senior year in high school... Just a thought =)
  • From:
    Honey (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    My goodness, how your son sounds like my RD, when he was young. He was ADD, and nothing we did helped. School was not any help either.
    By high school, we ALL were throwing up our hands!
    Then he had his accident.
    Now, I do not see any of this ADD in him, but he does have some depression.
    RD too, had a good side to him. :)
    More now than ever. :)

    Thanks for your comment in my diary.
    I really appreciate it.
    Sometimes hearing what others think, helps make the decision alot easier.
    I am checking more into it now.

    Peace and Love,
    Honey
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    your son sounds like genius material, how lovely of him to help out a neighbour in need
  • From:
    NooNoo (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    That's such a pity... Schools should be able to provide the best kind of teaching to all kinds of students :(.
    *Hug*

    cur
  • From:
    Salamander (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    School credits only last the year. Good Samaritan credits last a life time.
  • From:
    Pinkspiritlady (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    Make sure the judge hears about this the next time "J" is in court. He really is a sweet kid.
  • From:
    Melange (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 02 2002
    Unfortunately, there is no such test as a test for being Bipolar. It is a diagnosis made by a psychiatrist. They have not yet invented such a test as a simple blood test, or otherwise. Your Son does sound like a wonderful boy capable of great compassion and of that you should as I know you are be very proud.