Gena
01-21-2011, 04:15 PM
We have working a lot on emotions with DS. He can name six emotions, and identify the corresponding facial expressions. We talk about what triggers each emotion and what we can do when we feel these things. We use this book: http://www.amazon.com/My-Book-Full-Feelings-Emotions/dp/1931282838/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295640336&sr=1-1
DS understands all that, but in a rote sort of way. He has not been able to connect this information to his own internal state. So, he will always tell me that he is happy, no matter what evidence there is to the contrary. He can be sobbing hysterically and still insist that he feels happy.
Yesterday, DS had some poor behavior at school and came home with a bad report from his teacher. When we talked about it, he got very upset and cried for a long time. I was holding him and trying to calm him when all of a sudden DS said to me, "Mommy, I feel sad" and he sounded a little surprised. I was stunned.
We talked about how he was sad becuase of the choices he had made at school. And that this had made his teacher sad too. And that making better choices can make him happy. Then we talked about how everyone gets sad sometimes. We pulled out his book of feelings and talked about things that make us sad.
I feel disappointed that he made poor behavior choices at school, but WOW what a silver lining.
DS understands all that, but in a rote sort of way. He has not been able to connect this information to his own internal state. So, he will always tell me that he is happy, no matter what evidence there is to the contrary. He can be sobbing hysterically and still insist that he feels happy.
Yesterday, DS had some poor behavior at school and came home with a bad report from his teacher. When we talked about it, he got very upset and cried for a long time. I was holding him and trying to calm him when all of a sudden DS said to me, "Mommy, I feel sad" and he sounded a little surprised. I was stunned.
We talked about how he was sad becuase of the choices he had made at school. And that this had made his teacher sad too. And that making better choices can make him happy. Then we talked about how everyone gets sad sometimes. We pulled out his book of feelings and talked about things that make us sad.
I feel disappointed that he made poor behavior choices at school, but WOW what a silver lining.