Hi.
I have a 7 y old son who for most of the time during normal routine school and home life you’d describe as bright, bit quirky (eg very into fossils crystals bird watching etc), very sensitive (can have tantrum or overreact) and quite intense (talks fast, coming up with ideas or asking deep questions) . Many of these are both assets and challenges I’ve put down to him having a very fast and brilliant mind.
There are a couple of physical glitchy things (v sensitive to pain, sensations in body or on him eg hates tickling and blankets, constantly telling us of tummy ache and headache etc) sensitive senses, tired v easily, cannot function v well at all if remotely hungry.
School reports are always exemplary and staff say he’s thriving. He himself reports classroom as fine but playground as overwhelming unless he has his bestie there. We’ve been in to discuss our concerns about emotional regulation / social development stuff at home but school are happy there’s no issues in school and we’ve assumed he’s just overtired at home
However - out of term time we really get a ramp up of things including constant counting/ thinking and talking about patterns, climbing on us or pulling on our arms etc (attention seeking) anxiety around what is happening next, fixating on an event or object, being cynical, controlling, seeming rude or doing opposite of what’s asked etc etc it is much worse if we go away - eg weekend away or holiday.
We go through this cycle over and over where we go back to school and say how hard it’s been and basically beg them for ideas- then he’s a bit easier in the term .
I’ve thought about gp but feel we will be dismissed from camhs due to good presentation at school (we are both teachers so know the lengthy process). Also thought about private assessment (which would at least provide quicker answers rather than waiting for it to become a problem at school) but not sure how much it would cost/ where is reputable / if school or nhs or council then take that as valid diagnosis (if diagnosed).
Of course could leave it to develop and see if these things get more pronounced at school or get better at home.
Our intentions are to understand his behaviour and way of thinking , reduce frustration (ours and his) and work with him to develop before “big big school” best we can.
All advice or experiences welcome- feel lost!!!! This week I’ve gone from crying my eyes out about his behaviour (when it was at its worst) to accepting him for who he is and reading about space to him and being grateful for my lovely bright boy