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Original poster

DS 4.75 confused over direction advice needed.

15 replies

bouncy · 14/04/2004 07:48

My ds was out with myself and my friend yesterday, we went to town, (DS goes probably once or twice a month). He saw something he likes and wanted to go to the shop and see it, I said I wanted to go to the bank first and he could have a look when I was finished. After we came out the bank we walked back into the direction of the shop he wanted to look at, but as soon as I made a step that way he tried to pull me the other and when I said, No this way, he started crying and said he wanted to see the shop. My poor little DS thought the shop was the other way. I just thought he got a little confused, until my friend (who I see once in a blue moon) said that if it was her child (she has none) that she would be concerned that he wasn't aware of which way he was going seemingly as he comes here often.

Of course being a natural panicky mum, this started me off worrying, and since then noticed that DS spoke and forgot what he was saying, and also told me what book he wanted and then 2 hours later couldn't remember which one he picked. Of course if it wasn't for (so called) friend then I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but maybe being mum, I am burying head in the sand. Just wanted some advise/reassureance.

TIA

OP posts:

Freckle · 14/04/2004 07:55

I don't think at this age it is necessarily something to worry about - although you are now absolutely bound to because something has been said.

If you want to reassure yourself, try a few little tests - but also try them on some other children of a similar age. I'm not sure my 5yo has a brilliant sense of direction at the moment and he's always forgetting things too. I don't think he has any sort of problem.

Janh · 14/04/2004 10:08

FWIW I sometimes turn the wrong way out of one place to get to another! Does your childless friend have any expertise in child development? If not I would ignore her "helpful" advice in future!

aloha · 14/04/2004 11:03

What a stupid friend to say such worrying things to you Bouncy - I do that literally ALL THE TIME and I'm 40, not four. I have zero sense of direction and very often come out of a shop and march down the street in precisely the direction I have just come from. I also refuse drive anywhere I don't know extremely well for work as I get lost so easily it's not worth it as it takes literally hours and hours to go somewhere that should take about 40 minutes. I can't read maps either. But I do have a job (used to have quite senior ones), a husband, a family a house and a degree.

aloha · 14/04/2004 11:04

Typical childless friend too. Take a look at the thread Stupid Things Non-Parents have said to me!!

coppertop · 14/04/2004 11:08

I have absolutely NO sense of direction and a terrible memory. I often can't remember what I did 10 minutes ago. Your ds isn't even 5yrs old yet. Ignore the 'friend'.

Twinkie · 14/04/2004 11:21

God DD forgets where her bedroom is sometimes and will often go to get something from one room in the house and forget where she is going and what for - I don't think there is anything wrong with her except that she is too much like her mummy!!

Stupid Stupid Childless person will r4ealise when she finally has kids (do you think we should let her?? ) that there are far more important things to worry about!!

carwillin · 14/04/2004 11:28

This is always happening to me even in the town I grew up in. People have an affinity for different things not everyone has a good sense of direction.

Only yesterday I got on the M3 going towards London instead of Southampton but I was convinced I was going the right way - which caused some belly laughing from my DH and then a dig in the ribs from me

carla · 14/04/2004 11:31

Bunkum and poppycock

suedonim · 14/04/2004 23:59

Good thing your 'friend' didn't see me on my annual trip to Ikea today, Bouncy!! I was totally confused about where I'd been and where I was supposed to go next.

Seriously, I don't think you've anything to be concerned about.

Levanna · 15/04/2004 00:29

I'd really tend to think he was just a bit confused too. (What is it about 'friends?!) Over the weekend I got onto the M25 in the wrong direction (and that has SIGNS!! ), as for memory, I regularly get upstairs and forget what I've gone up there to get. Or downstairs with the same problem. Lose my glasses only to find they're on my head, and so on I live a perfectly normal life BTW, it's just that it takes me ten times longer to get anywhere than anyone else, as I have to return to the house after I've locked, it generally two or three times before I've got everything I need!

mummytojames · 15/04/2004 00:36

levanna im exactly the same and i dont thik you friend actualy knew what she was talking about there are days when i got to look at my hands to see which one got the engagement ring on so i know my left from my right i think we all go like it alot more than we realise

Levanna · 15/04/2004 00:36

I've got to come clean....I didn't actually get lost, I was sat in the passenger seat, reading the map and looking at the signs, and merrily instructing a not-very-impressed DH to go in the wrong direction!

carla · 15/04/2004 01:30

oooooh, and I forgot the Twaddle. Silly cow!

Ghosty · 15/04/2004 01:51

Agree with everyone else bouncy ... your friend is talking rubbish!
I am like Levanna ... I often start doing something, get distracted, then forget what I was doing before ... I am glad I don't wear glassed because I would be forever losing them ... I do have a good sense of direction but in other ways I am very forgetful and scatterbrained ...
I lead a normal life, have a high () IQ and a degree ...

Jimjams · 15/04/2004 08:06

Yep another vote in the friend talking rubbish camp. I have a good sense of direction and I am continually amazed by how useless dh and a lot of my friend's are. I'm convinced they must walk round with their eyes shut

On the other hand I often forget why I've walked into a room "durr what am I doing here?"

I think direction has a lot to do with your learning style. DS1's sense of direction is ridiculously good- if we go somewhere once and then go back and I can't remember where something is I follow him(he always takes the same route) - been doing that since he was 2. However his learning style is almost 100% visual.

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