three things

update:

jasper's appointment - overall went well. he has to continue with the high dose chamber steroids, but the doctors could really hear an improvement in his lungs. so thank you Father GOD! i am really pleased about that. the bad news is, when jasper lifted up his shirt so they could check his lungs and breathing, the doctor lowered the stethoscope, looked at jasper's stomach and said, "does the stomach normally look like this?"

and darn it, whenever i get scared, i get defensive. i do i do i do. it is a bad thing but it is a me thing. it is also the doctor's fault for not approaching it in a better manner. and i mean really, what did they mean by that vague question?

possible defensive responses...you choose which one i went with.

"you mean with the belly button?"

"you mean pink? yes."

"round? like he just ate two packets of crisps and a banana and drank an ice tea because we were waiting for 45 minutes before we got in to see you?"

well, no need to go into detail which one i said, but i am sure you can figure it out. again, i was defensive. but why the sudden interest in how my child's belly is shaped? he is not with child, he is a child.

i have been googling to try and figure this one out, and i have not been successful. if jasper was a dog i would think the vet was suggesting he had worms.

anyway, it really was a good appointment, can't you tell? it was. have to continue with steroids. got some cream for the exema. stay away from heavily cross pollinated areas. the doctor was very impressed that i keep a nebuliser in canada.  so i gained some points back there.

confession: have you ever been overly emotional with someone that you don't know very well? today i was. background: last night i went to a mum's evening with the mums from sebastian's class. and i have to say, they are fantastic. a great group of mums, no one slags each other off, no division based on class, race, wealth. great ladies.  i did have to mention the word epilepsy seven or eight times as every time we moved places people would cry loudly BUT YOU"RE NOT DRINKING!

i am digressing more than they were drinking. this one really lovely mum said something really nice about sebastian. you know that sebastian is "different" from mainstream kids. there are "different okay" and there are "different not so okay" and sebastian is just "different, very okay". very creative. he has a high sense of justice,  fairness is so important to him. and he daydreams. but rarely, so very rarely do i get a mum who volunteers in the classroom who walks up and says, "your son is a pleasure". most times i get, "your son looks just like your husband".

 i understand, sebastian is different, but that is not wrong. but last night, a mum complimented me on sebastian, called him sparky. said a few more things that she really liked about him, and i could tell that she meant it. it brought tears to my eyes, as really, i had never heard anyone say these things about my child before. not someone who wasn't a friend of mine already. another mum, who was sitting with us, actually started to disagree. i don't blame her or didn't get upset. but this other mum kept talking him up.  she sees what i see! sometimes you think you are seeing illusions.

today i called her to say thank you, and i started to tear up. and yes, cry, as i was thanking her.  i think she was a bit embarrassed, and i know i was.

lastly, also about sebastian. a friend of mine, nicole, who is in our book club and also lives in our building, is the ea in the classroom next to sebastian.s she sent me this message about sebastian standing up for his faith and what he believes is right.

In Year 1 they have been comparing the natural environment and man made...that's the context...

I don't listen in to 1A (trying to keep track with the class I work with)... but my interest was tweaked when I heard Sebastian say something like..."God made the world and the things in it." Not sure of the teacher's inital question.

His teacher politely replied. "We don't know if God exisits"

Sebastian's response "But God does exist!" ( He was not going to let it go)

His teacher diplomatically had to reply again "Some people believe God exsits and some people don't. People have to respect other people who don't believe in God just the same way people respect people who do believe in God".

I just thought Sebastian was great.

i am really thrilled. i am sure his teachers were polite and i know this is the response that has to be given in public schools, but i am proud that my boy stood up for his faith.

 

spent this morning in wanchai markets with a new friend. all in all, a great couple of days.

Comments

[Louise M]

Love the post. My son David had a very high sense of justice and fairness as well. He would always befriend the "underdog" of the classroom and would willingly pair up with them in group projects, even though he knew he would probably have to do most of the work. They are different and are doubly loved by everyone for it... Hugs to Sebastion and may his faith keep him strong.

[Jody]

Laughing now, because I'm trying to imagine what would happen to a teacher in our state schools who responded as Sebastian's did! Around here, they would either affirm Sebastian's statement about God or keep talking. Definitely NOT raise the possibility of God not existing!

Isn't it wonderful when people spontaneously praise our kids to us for something specific? I love it when that happens. One of the best things about having parent volunteers at school, I think.

[Coral]

It is lovely when someone says something about your kid, that you know and recognise in him. I am so pleased she said something. Do not be embarassed about being touched by it.

My 'stepdaughter' once said "You have to tell people positive things about themselves, if they look good, say so. If they have great eyes, say so, you may never get the chance again, and this goes for everyone, no matter what their age." She was only 16 at the time.

[Lucy Moran]

Tess I'm so glad Jasper is okay. And hope that you can now relax a little.

My impressions of Sebbie especially the last time I saw him, are that he's a very thoughtful and considerate little man - wise beyond his years! Dare I say - much like Charles!

Love Lucy

[knobody]

it's great that seb is standing up for himself. but his teacher is right, he should (and i'm sure does) have respect for those who believe differently or choose evidence over faith, just as those who do not believe need to respect those who choose to do so. maybe it's just a sore spot for me, but i live in a country where my choice not to believe is persecuted, where i am more feared than terrorists. i know you do not raise your children to judge others, but for the benefit of other readers, i would like to remind them that christianity does not have a monopoly on morality (or even, for that matter, the population).

[katrina]

What a delight your boy is. You have so much to be proud of!

[Super B's Mom]

THIS is proof of your incredible ability to raise AMAZING children, Tess. YOU ROCK.

[Maggie]

FWIW, about the tummy thing, I think a symptom of chronic asthma is a distended belly. My brother had this when we were growing up...it's something about their diaphragm working so hard to get enough air in. So possibly that was what the dr was talking about. (Oh, and his stomach isn't like that now that he's an adult.)