I just want to say that my son is kind of the same. He is acedemicaly advanced, but behind emotional it seems. Maturaty will come in time. But I also think in this day and age, a sensitive male is maybe a good thing. I think we all seem to worry to much about our boys being BOYS!!! And girls being GIRLS! I hope you know what I mean with that. I raised my son on my own for 12 years, so I know I have made him somewhat of a wimp, but I also know that I am proud of him and that he would do anything to make me happy. SO I decided to stop worrying about his wimpisms, and realize that some day he will be a man, and I would give anything to have him back as my baby!
I love it when you find someone else going through the same thing...I don't feel so alone! I learned so much from the other responses. My son was raised by my mother and I for his first 5 years and his natural father and I just got married two years ago (he just turned 8). We are having a tough time transitioning b/c Dad is a very "macho man" and our son is, like yours, VERY sensitive. I think that is one of the major issues my husband and I fight about. He wants him to "suck it up" and is always really hard on him, which makes him cry, and I always feel the need to "rescue him" so that he can feel like it's not bad that he is a sensitive person. He cries at school when things go wrong and he's so empathetic that he gets in trouble for excessively worrying about others. I saw the post about why you would want him to change and I must say that from my perspective it's not a matter of wanting him to NOT be a sensitive person...it's a matter of teaching him how to have self control and find a balance with his emotions. I know that my son will not be the "macho man" that his dad is but his uncontrollable outbursts are affecting his schoolwork and his "credibility" with friends and teachers at school. That is what I think we are both trying to accomplish in seeking help. Just as an angry kid acts out and gets labeled...so does a whiny kid! He has to learn to manage that to a "socially acceptable" level.(I HATE that term but can't think of a better way to say it). Anyway, I'll keep checking back here for more great advice and hope you have much luck with your son. Feel free to get in touch if you just need some moral support!!
Shari,
What a beautiful young man you have in your possession!!! Boys these days are not in tune with their emotions and tend to bottle them up because they have to be little men ya know!! Your son will grow up and be the kind of man every woman wants to marry. I'll bet he'll do dishes, laundry, cook and sew or mend clothes. Very metrosexual and attractive to females when they are older.
I would go to the school and hang out with him whenever you can. These kids who are bullying and picking on your son have issues themselves and having an adults attention and talking to them may help alleviate the bullying.
Sweetie....please get your son promoted and back to his "normal" class. Please trust me in this!! So many kids are told they need to be held back or parents are advised to retain their child in their current class for one reason or another. But I can tell you that this actually hurts the kids mainly because once they are labeled a failure, they see themselves as failures no matter what they accomplish later in life. I've seen the devastation that holding a child back can cause. So, please do whatever it takes to get him promoted...even if you have to have him homeschooled!!
Been there and done it.
Pat
Shari,
My oldest son, now 9, was the same way. Very emotional, sensitive, and cried over everything! But since he started 4th grade he has grown up so much and is turning into a sensitive, caring, and sweet little man. Just a wonderful combination :) I would definitely get your son put back in the grade he's supposed to be in and enjoy him as much as you can while he's little because he will grow up way too fast as I'm sure you know.
I came across your post because I’m having similar issues with my 8 year old Ha! And was wondering what the outcome was for your son. This was from 2006 so you son is an adult now. Has he changed? At what age? Any advise? Was it worth worrying about?