Well Below Average

A few weeks ago Liam brought home results from the MAP testing he took in kindergarten. Thankfully, I met with his teacher the day before the results were sent home and she told me to ignore them. Also, I don't put much stock in this test that's done on the computer, especially after seeing Liam's lack of mouse skills. (The company should develop the test for iPads.)

Anyway... His test results all read "well below average."

Does a well below average child know the names of every person in a large facility? And also greet them with smiles?

Can a well below average child look at a very over tired mamma and ask, "what's wrong? Are you sad today?" And then follow that up with a kiss and a smile?

Does a well below average child ask his sick older brother how he's feeling? And then offer him the remote so he can pick the next show?

Does a well below average child manage to win a smile from even the most "standoffish" adult?

My well below average child may not be reading books yet (which, by the way I think is a totally inappropriate expectation for his age), but my well below average child has social skills well beyond his years.

And honestly. In the long run... I believe his social skills will serve him better than high test scores at any point in his education.

He Still Loves Firetrucks

Now that my vaccine post is out of the way, hopefully I'll be getting more regular updates done.

One of my biggest fears right after the stroke was that Liam's personality would change dramatically.

I was wrong. He's still his outgoing, friendly, loving, caring, and sometimes stubborn self. He still loves firemen and wants to be one when he grows up. He still adores his big brother. He still tries to keep up with him. And he's still beyond excited for the arrival of his little brother.

Sure, there are things we struggle with post-stroke, but more and more his personality is making it's appearance and I'm loving it.

Confidence

I'm not sure if it's typical.  But Quinn, at seven and a half, has the most confidence of any child I know. 

He'll try any water slide, climbing obstacle, and challenge put in front of him. 

If he doesn't know the answer and you tell him, his immediate response is, "Oh, yeah, I was about to say that."

While watching American Ninja Warrior he insists that he'd be able to do all of the obstacles - if only Mike would build them for him.

Now, with the Olympics on, he's decided that next summer he will join the local swim team so that he can go to the Olympics and win the gold.

I honestly do not remember ever having this amount of confidence as a child.  Maybe I did and forgot about it.

For now I'll try my best to find a good balance of encouraging his confidence and keeping the boasting under control. 

I just wish I could bottle this all up and serve it to him when he's an awkward teenager.