My ds2 has always been a bit like this. I don't mean he is immature, just that he doesn't want to grow up. He loved being my baby and resented my dd when she was born and displaced him as the baby of the family, though funnily enough, he didn't seem to mind ds3 being born.
He always used to cry if I told him funny stories of what he did when he was a baby - because they made him want to go back to being a baby. That has worn off a bit as he had grown older, but yesterday, I had it all over again. Ds1 was 9 yesterday and ds2 is exactly 18 months younger than ds1 so whenever one has a birthday, the other is celebrating being half way through whatever age they are. All was fine until they had all gone to bed. Then some time later, ds2 came downstairs crying because "I don't want to be 8" - even though he is not 8 for another 6 months! I asked if this was because of his age old thing about not wanting to stop being my baby (I have always reassured him that he will always be my baby no matter how old he is). HJe seemed unsure what he was crying about but said it was partly that.
You know, sometimes I worry so much about ds2. He has always been a serious boy and taken things to heart. He is also very intelligent which I know from having a very intelligent brother is not always a good thing: there is a tendency to dwell to much on things rather than just living each moment and enjoying life for what it offers like the rest of us mortals. I really worry that once teenage hormones kick in and when I can no longer shield ds2 from life's harsh realities, he will end up committing suicide. Sorry, that must seem extreme to some of you, but my mother has admitted she worried the same way about my brother and he has indeed been very depressed on occasions.
I know I have gone on too much about this. Thanks if you have read so far. How do you think I should deal with ds2's weepy moments?
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How do you deal with a child who doesn't want to grow up?
17 replies
Lonelymum · 22/06/2005 13:39
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