A couple of issues have come up with Michael recently. Aside from his ongoing struggle with dependence versus independence (aka the terrible twos-which I have accepted as appropriate for his age and something that we just need to handle as best we can), there are a couple of things going on with him that have me a little worried.
For one, Michael is going through what I would call insomnia. He normally needs a while to settle down and go to sleep but for 3 nights now he has been awake until almost midnight and has needed extra comforting. I normally try to avoid too much coddling about bed time resistance but he seems genuinely afraid of something. Being alone, the dark, those monsters we keep in his closet...he can't tell me WHAT but it is clearly causing him some anxiety. I have decided not to freak out until this develops into more of a pattern. But I struggled with insomnia for a loooong time as a child/adolescent and am hoping that he doesn't have the same trouble.
The change in sleep pattern alone wouldn't have me so concerned if it weren't for another new habit that has shown up- Michael has been picking at his fingernails and toe nails. I don't want to overreact but this too looks like a behavior that could be anxiety-related. Again, I am going to watch and see if this little habit continues over a longer period of time but if I am being honest, it already has me feeling anxious! I am trying to keep it in perspective.
This is a downside of doing the type of work I do. I work with children who are in need of behavioral health and/or mental health services. I see many situations where kids show signs of a problem and it is overlooked by even the most attentive parents and then it blows up into something bigger...and so when I see little things like this in my own kids, I get a little nuts. I have been consulting a couple of books that have been helpful and obviously I will talk with the pediatrician if these concerns persist. I just needed to write it down and process it a little bit.
Thanks for listening :)
3 comments:
It is your job to worry, right? I see your concerns, and hopefully it's a phase, like most things with kids. Children's sleep issues are so personal, what one parent would do might be the total wrong thing for another. I'm really not being helpful here, but what I'm trying to say is go with your gut on this. You know that boy better than anyone, and you know what works for your family.
Forgive me if I write a book here, but this is an issue that is near, if not dear, to my heart.
By trade I'm a pediatric occupational therapist. I've worked in the urban schools and then in early intervention, so I know what you mean about getting overly cautious and nervous about every little thing that you notice in your kiddos. Add to that my spazzy personality and I'm downright paranoid, although my paranoia revolves more around developmental delays and autism.
I literally took David into his 4 month well visit and said, "I'm worried he's showing signs of cerebral palsy." My pediatrician took my concern seriously, but then examined him and said that everything looked normal, and that he understood how my background could make me oversensitive to these things.
So all that being said, the things that you mentioned wouldn't have sparked concern in my mind. Toddlers are anxious and fearful little creatures by nature. OF COURSE you will keep an eye on it, but it is very likely normal for his age.
I hope YOU are able to sleep well tonight. Poor momma is the one who suffers with the anxiety. :)
Emily- TOTALLY hear you on the autism paranoia and the downside of being involved with EI. Most of what I do involves kids diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Whatever the concern, I feel that it is better to ask the question and be reassured/address the problem than ignore it and be stressed out! Sounds like you have a great pediatrician- we are lucky in that way too :)
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