Sam

Sam is often mysterious to me. The mood-controlling area of his brain seems to have a dividing wall with a door that he walks through and always closes behind him. He is either happy, delightful, chatty and cooperative or irrational, argumentative, and looooouuuudd. Helping him learn to cope with frustration without becoming irrational and uncommunicative is going to take a long time.

This morning he was very happy and funny. I had a chance to ask him about something I've been wondering for a while. When we arrive at school all the kids wait out on the playground in assigned areas by class. They are allowed to leave their backpacks in line and play until the bell rings, but Sam has been staying in line for the last several weeks. I've seen his friends run in circles calling "Hey, Sam, let's go play!" but he just shakes his head no. Jude and Owen run on the playground with the big kids and Sam watches from line.

Today the mood was right to ask nonchalantly why he does that. I don't want to pressure him to play. Me: "Sam, I've been wondering why you don't play on the playground before school." Sam: "Because I don't like to get bumped."

I am very proud of my little boundary-setter.