There is a lot of discussion these days about our children being labeled with learning disabilities and whether its appropriate given what we know about our children's sensitivities. For a long time, it has angered me to know that institutions, who don't directly relate to many of our children, could be in a position to tell us there is something wrong with them. Labels for everything from sensory processing, auditory processing, aspergers, autism to ADD or ADHD (whichever term they are using in this moment). Sounds to me like the only people NOT being labeled are the child prodigy's (and we know how few and far between they are).
As the mom of four kids ranging in age from a teenager to an infant, I feel equipped through experience, to share my feelings and perception about this topic. My oldest son Adam, is one of those kids who fits in well with the traditional school model. He understands the material easily; he tests well; he's outgoing, athletic; a kid who will succeed no matter what is thrown his way. He is also naturally intuitive which gives him the ability to read his surroundings and other people, but in a way that doesn't affect his personal energetic space.
Conclusion: Not a child one would think would be labeled with anything.
However, in kindergarten there was one teacher who gently commented that we may want to watch him for ADD. Given my intuitive knowing as a parent I strongly disagreed and found other ways to help him channel his energy. We put him in Tae Kwon Do and took him to yoga. What I came to understand about him, was that his natural intuitive gifts are demonstrated through his physical being. He is a gifted athlete and as long as he's moving the abundance of energy he has been blessed with, he functions perfectly well.
*In Raising Intuitive Children Adam is an example of the Physical Intuitive intelligence.
My younger son on the other hand is the complete opposite. He is emotionally sensitive, something I was aware of about him, at a very early age. He connects with the earth energies- water, crystals, animals; is compassionate; a humitarian; feels the emotions of the people around him; began seeing colors at the age of 3 and started having clairvoyant experiences at the age of 4; he struggles with reading and comprehending what he's read, but he is excellent in math and strategic games like chess; and he's drawn to art and music. Caden is a visual/ kinesthetic learner and doesn't process things the way a left- brained linear thinker does.
Conclusion: The schools wants to test him for auditory processing disorder and his teacher said they may lean toward ADHD too.
Now I am not against techniques that will help him function more easily in school, like the ones they would use to test his auditory skills, because what I have observed is that his confidence and self- esteem are compromised when he feels like he's not as smart as the other kids. I do however, have a problem with this being done because he isn't reading at the level they expect him to be. As far as ADHD is concerned, he absolutely does not exhibit characteristics of this label. Yes his mind moves faster and requires tricks to slow him down, but he is running at an incredibly high vibration, something we are not accepting of (or even aware of) in our world at this time.
Techniques I use to slow his mind down are things he can relate to energetically. As I said, he is intune with the earth energies. He takes a crystal to school with him and can either feel it through his pocket or hold it in his hand. This reminds him to stay grounded. I make sure he has a water bottle with him and he is encouraged to sip from it frequently. From a very early age, Caden used water as a natural way to ground himself (he would swim, take a bath, soak in the hot tub) so by drinking water, it has a similar affect and calms him. He is blessed to have a teacher who is also a meditation instructor, so we have discussed her walking by and touching his shoulder from time to time, so he feels connected which helps him remain centered.
*In Raising Intuitive Children, Caden is an example of the Empathic Intuitive and Psychic intelligence.
Although it can be daunting to know what the answers are for your kids or how to fight a system that appears broken, my best advice is to trust your intuition. If someone tells you something you don't feel right about, question it. Pay attention to what your kids may energetically be telling you as well. Often times, our kids will lead us toward what is best for them if we take the time to pay attention. I had every intention of homeschooling Caden this year. The fact that he is a psychically, empathic child made school difficult for him at times and we agreed third grade would be the time to change our method of schooling. We moved back home to upstate NY from VA, right before school started and Caden requested to go to school. We even discussed him staying back in second grade so he could have another year to build his confidence and registered him in second only to find out they placed him in third. It all made sense when I found out his teacher is also a meditation instructor and certified in Reiki 1 and 2. I have also been told he would work with autistic children someday and what better way to understand their sensitivities than to experience some of what they experience.
We may not always understand why things happen a certain way, but what I have found is that if we trust the natural flow; trust ourselves enough to know we have the answers; and listen to what our children may not be saying to us verbally, but may be saying to us energetically; things always work out for the best!
Copyright 2010, Tara Paterson, All Rights Reserved
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