TV watching = anxiety?
Sylvia
Hey all! I'm hoping to get some ideas here to help me out with some
issues with Andy, our 7yo.
I've been back and forth on the TV issue for most of my Mom years. I
tend to want to allow them to watch TV when they want, but with a
secret hope they'll actually watch much less than they do. Both Will
(now grown) and Andy are HUGE TV watchers, where Dan (only 2) is the
only one who actually turns it off -- ever!
Andy has always been a special kid -- he's larger than life in many
ways, very energetic, very sweet, with some really weird food issues
(tactile defensive stuff, I think) a big imagination, and an
amazingly obsessive focus and enthusiasm for his interests. He's
also always been a worrier, for lack of a better word.
Recently, he's developed some real anxiety issues -- can't stand to
be alone in a room, even in daylight; wants someone to walk him even
to the bathroom; won't go to sleep alone (a skill he'd only recently
acquired anyway); is calling out several times some nights, with bad
dreams; and whining a lot; he desperately wanted me to hold his hand
as we walked down the hall to bed tonight (which I did). Not a sweet
hand-holding thing, but out and out frantic anxiety! Maybe the
regression is about his oldest brother leaving home -- but that was 2
months ago, and they didn't even get along all that well anyway
(they're very different types of people) -- I'd think that by now,
he'd have adjusted.
Just the last few days, he's begun telling me he's afraid of
characters with names like he hears on Pokemon cartoons. It started
me thinking... in the past couple of months, his TV viewing is way up
(we lifted all limits in March) and he's watching a lot of anime
style cartoons. I wonder if this could be causing his anxiety? Not
so much in a scary character way, but in some kind of input
processing way? Given his tactile issues -- not just about food,
he's also very high-need to be touched/snuggled, has to play with my
hair whenever he can, just never seems to get enough physical
contact -- I've begun to think he may have some sensory integration
issues, and wondered if this could also be responsible for his
obsessive tendencies (yes, he's also more than a little obsessive).
Until now, we've just dismissed his quirks as just "Andy" done our
best to help him work thru his issues and trusted he'd get thru
things just fine. Now I'm starting to wonder how we can help him.
Could it be that anime, specifically, might be a problem for him? I
told him tonight that it seems to me that the more TV he watches --
especially anime -- the more anxious he is overall. We've been
talking about his anxiety/fears in the last week or two, to sort of
brainstorm ideas and solutions to help him. I suggested he cut back
to only a couple hours of TV a day, and against my better judgment
agreed to allow two anime shows -- Pokemon & Digimon -- only because
he acted like I'd cut his heart out at the very idea of not allowing
anime!
I reminded him that we'll be leaving for Hawaii soon, where there's
no cable TV and he might not even be able to get Pokemon (grandma &
grandpa have only the Big 3 and PBS, with somewhat spotty reception)
so maybe now would be a good time to start cutting back to prepare
for the loss of TV in Hawaii. He countered that it's more fun in
Hawaii, it's no fun here in Albuquerque and that's why he has to have
more TV!
I don't know what to do for him..... but it breaks my heart to see
him so anxious, not to mention how very tired I am of walking him to
the bathroom and having him shadow me all the time. Right now,
Daniel at 2yo is more comfortable away from me than Andy!
Any ideas or help?
Syl
issues with Andy, our 7yo.
I've been back and forth on the TV issue for most of my Mom years. I
tend to want to allow them to watch TV when they want, but with a
secret hope they'll actually watch much less than they do. Both Will
(now grown) and Andy are HUGE TV watchers, where Dan (only 2) is the
only one who actually turns it off -- ever!
Andy has always been a special kid -- he's larger than life in many
ways, very energetic, very sweet, with some really weird food issues
(tactile defensive stuff, I think) a big imagination, and an
amazingly obsessive focus and enthusiasm for his interests. He's
also always been a worrier, for lack of a better word.
Recently, he's developed some real anxiety issues -- can't stand to
be alone in a room, even in daylight; wants someone to walk him even
to the bathroom; won't go to sleep alone (a skill he'd only recently
acquired anyway); is calling out several times some nights, with bad
dreams; and whining a lot; he desperately wanted me to hold his hand
as we walked down the hall to bed tonight (which I did). Not a sweet
hand-holding thing, but out and out frantic anxiety! Maybe the
regression is about his oldest brother leaving home -- but that was 2
months ago, and they didn't even get along all that well anyway
(they're very different types of people) -- I'd think that by now,
he'd have adjusted.
Just the last few days, he's begun telling me he's afraid of
characters with names like he hears on Pokemon cartoons. It started
me thinking... in the past couple of months, his TV viewing is way up
(we lifted all limits in March) and he's watching a lot of anime
style cartoons. I wonder if this could be causing his anxiety? Not
so much in a scary character way, but in some kind of input
processing way? Given his tactile issues -- not just about food,
he's also very high-need to be touched/snuggled, has to play with my
hair whenever he can, just never seems to get enough physical
contact -- I've begun to think he may have some sensory integration
issues, and wondered if this could also be responsible for his
obsessive tendencies (yes, he's also more than a little obsessive).
Until now, we've just dismissed his quirks as just "Andy" done our
best to help him work thru his issues and trusted he'd get thru
things just fine. Now I'm starting to wonder how we can help him.
Could it be that anime, specifically, might be a problem for him? I
told him tonight that it seems to me that the more TV he watches --
especially anime -- the more anxious he is overall. We've been
talking about his anxiety/fears in the last week or two, to sort of
brainstorm ideas and solutions to help him. I suggested he cut back
to only a couple hours of TV a day, and against my better judgment
agreed to allow two anime shows -- Pokemon & Digimon -- only because
he acted like I'd cut his heart out at the very idea of not allowing
anime!
I reminded him that we'll be leaving for Hawaii soon, where there's
no cable TV and he might not even be able to get Pokemon (grandma &
grandpa have only the Big 3 and PBS, with somewhat spotty reception)
so maybe now would be a good time to start cutting back to prepare
for the loss of TV in Hawaii. He countered that it's more fun in
Hawaii, it's no fun here in Albuquerque and that's why he has to have
more TV!
I don't know what to do for him..... but it breaks my heart to see
him so anxious, not to mention how very tired I am of walking him to
the bathroom and having him shadow me all the time. Right now,
Daniel at 2yo is more comfortable away from me than Andy!
Any ideas or help?
Syl
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/11/03 12:12:13 AM, syltoyama@... writes:
<< he desperately wanted me to hold his hand
as we walked down the hall to bed tonight (which I did). Not a sweet
hand-holding thing, but out and out frantic anxiety! >>
Marty used to have night panics. He would sleepwalk, and if people touched
him he would start to just flap his hands to bat us away and whimper. Or if
he woke up in the bed he would be saying "Mom, MOM! MOM!" but he didn't like to
be held, and he wasn't really awake.
The latest sleepwalking I know of was when he was 10 or 11.
He said last year that he finally figured out it only happened on days when
he hadn't eaten much or well, and if he paid attention to eating protein it
quit happening. There were kinds of audio and visual distortions. Not a full-on
hallucination of seeing something that wasn't there, but weird perception.
Interestingly I knew years back that Holly and Kirby got grumpy without protein
but Marty didn't. Seems "grumpy" just wasn't his symptom. When I was a
teenager, in high school and college, I had had those distortions Marty has
described, but in college they said "hypoglycemia" and I started consciously eating
protein (even between meals like taking medicine, I'll sometimes get a bite
of cheese, grab a handful of nuts, or eat a boiled egg) and it never happened
anymore.
-=- I wonder if this could be causing his anxiety? Not
so much in a scary character way, but in some kind of input
processing way? Given his tactile issues -=-
Could be the just-weird-brain-feeling thing Marty talks about, *possibly.*
Eating more protein doesn't cost much time or money. It's worth a try.
<<Any ideas or help?>>
Do you know Joy, in Rio Rancho, whose son Michael is Asperger's syndrome?
He's 18 now, employed, doing great. I'm not thinking of her last name. Her
daughter is Kenna. Have you considered it could be Asperger's? If so, I don't
think limiting TV is going to change anything. If he's feeling anxious, I'd
let him have whatever comfort he wants.
Sandra
<< he desperately wanted me to hold his hand
as we walked down the hall to bed tonight (which I did). Not a sweet
hand-holding thing, but out and out frantic anxiety! >>
Marty used to have night panics. He would sleepwalk, and if people touched
him he would start to just flap his hands to bat us away and whimper. Or if
he woke up in the bed he would be saying "Mom, MOM! MOM!" but he didn't like to
be held, and he wasn't really awake.
The latest sleepwalking I know of was when he was 10 or 11.
He said last year that he finally figured out it only happened on days when
he hadn't eaten much or well, and if he paid attention to eating protein it
quit happening. There were kinds of audio and visual distortions. Not a full-on
hallucination of seeing something that wasn't there, but weird perception.
Interestingly I knew years back that Holly and Kirby got grumpy without protein
but Marty didn't. Seems "grumpy" just wasn't his symptom. When I was a
teenager, in high school and college, I had had those distortions Marty has
described, but in college they said "hypoglycemia" and I started consciously eating
protein (even between meals like taking medicine, I'll sometimes get a bite
of cheese, grab a handful of nuts, or eat a boiled egg) and it never happened
anymore.
-=- I wonder if this could be causing his anxiety? Not
so much in a scary character way, but in some kind of input
processing way? Given his tactile issues -=-
Could be the just-weird-brain-feeling thing Marty talks about, *possibly.*
Eating more protein doesn't cost much time or money. It's worth a try.
<<Any ideas or help?>>
Do you know Joy, in Rio Rancho, whose son Michael is Asperger's syndrome?
He's 18 now, employed, doing great. I'm not thinking of her last name. Her
daughter is Kenna. Have you considered it could be Asperger's? If so, I don't
think limiting TV is going to change anything. If he's feeling anxious, I'd
let him have whatever comfort he wants.
Sandra
Tia Leschke
> Recently, he's developed some real anxiety issues -- can't stand toIs there any chance at all that something else traumatic has happened to him
> be alone in a room, even in daylight; wants someone to walk him even
> to the bathroom; won't go to sleep alone (a skill he'd only recently
> acquired anyway); is calling out several times some nights, with bad
> dreams; and whining a lot; he desperately wanted me to hold his hand
> as we walked down the hall to bed tonight (which I did). Not a sweet
> hand-holding thing, but out and out frantic anxiety! Maybe the
> regression is about his oldest brother leaving home -- but that was 2
> months ago, and they didn't even get along all that well anyway
> (they're very different types of people) -- I'd think that by now,
> he'd have adjusted.
that you don't know about?
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Alison Reynolds
First a quick intro. We're a life learning family in Wellington, New Zealand
way down under. There are Alison (yrs truly and Mum), Richard (Dad), Josh
16, Carrie 15, Tom 13 on July 4, Shannon (f) 11 on June 20, Jacob 6 and Lucy
3. I've been lurking for a week or so having just joined AlwaysLearning.
Sylvia - Reading your post Asperger Syndrome sprung to mind. We have a
daughter we think as a young lady with AS - Carrie. She has food issues
(sensitivities), and many other 'intersting' facets to her personality. She
obsesses about different things, is touchy-feely (less so than she used to
be -used to be great fun in shops!) I do find that Carrie will become
over-stimulated with TV sometimes. She seems to be learning to self-limit
now.
I'd encourage you to do some reading about Aspergers - which is on the
autism spectrum. There are several sites on the internet and some good
books. One of the most encouraging books I have read is called 'Son-rise:
the miracle continues' by Barry Kaufman. It is that story of a family whose
son displayed severely autistic behaviour and they developed their own way
of working with him against the trends of the day which were and still
largely are based on behaviour modification. Basically they accepted his
behaviour and allowed him to be himself.
We try to do this with our daughter as well as helping her learn to consider
the needs of other family members or folk in general. A balancing act!
www.tonyattwood.com - one of the leading Drs on AS
www.aspennj.org
www.autism.org
These are ones I have found info from. There are links to other sites as
well I think.
Regards, Alison
way down under. There are Alison (yrs truly and Mum), Richard (Dad), Josh
16, Carrie 15, Tom 13 on July 4, Shannon (f) 11 on June 20, Jacob 6 and Lucy
3. I've been lurking for a week or so having just joined AlwaysLearning.
Sylvia - Reading your post Asperger Syndrome sprung to mind. We have a
daughter we think as a young lady with AS - Carrie. She has food issues
(sensitivities), and many other 'intersting' facets to her personality. She
obsesses about different things, is touchy-feely (less so than she used to
be -used to be great fun in shops!) I do find that Carrie will become
over-stimulated with TV sometimes. She seems to be learning to self-limit
now.
I'd encourage you to do some reading about Aspergers - which is on the
autism spectrum. There are several sites on the internet and some good
books. One of the most encouraging books I have read is called 'Son-rise:
the miracle continues' by Barry Kaufman. It is that story of a family whose
son displayed severely autistic behaviour and they developed their own way
of working with him against the trends of the day which were and still
largely are based on behaviour modification. Basically they accepted his
behaviour and allowed him to be himself.
We try to do this with our daughter as well as helping her learn to consider
the needs of other family members or folk in general. A balancing act!
www.tonyattwood.com - one of the leading Drs on AS
www.aspennj.org
www.autism.org
These are ones I have found info from. There are links to other sites as
well I think.
Regards, Alison
Sylvia Toyama
Is there any chance at all that something else traumatic has happened to him
that you don't know about?
Tia
Not really -- either dh or I am with both boys really 24/7. Occasionally, he visits a good friend of mine to hang out with her kids, and I'm sure there's no trauma happening there. But I know what you mean. My sister was sexually molested at age 10, and we didn't find out about it for 9+ years! Now we understand why she was the most neurotic child on the planet -- thumbsucking, hairtwisting, nailbiting and so on continued well into her teens and even twenties!
Thanks for thought, tho! I did get some great advice and a wonderful reply from Anne O, so I hope I'm on the right track to figuring out how to help Andy!
Sylvia
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
that you don't know about?
Tia
Not really -- either dh or I am with both boys really 24/7. Occasionally, he visits a good friend of mine to hang out with her kids, and I'm sure there's no trauma happening there. But I know what you mean. My sister was sexually molested at age 10, and we didn't find out about it for 9+ years! Now we understand why she was the most neurotic child on the planet -- thumbsucking, hairtwisting, nailbiting and so on continued well into her teens and even twenties!
Thanks for thought, tho! I did get some great advice and a wonderful reply from Anne O, so I hope I'm on the right track to figuring out how to help Andy!
Sylvia
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
R. Porter
Hello! I am a lurker-sorry for jumping in prior to my intro. ;-)
I was thinking a simple anxiety disorder as I read this post (simple,
yes, but very painful for sure!). Perhaps an evaluation by a counselor
experienced with childhood anxiety disorders could be a wonderful place
to start? The key here is EXPERIENCED with CHILDHOOD anxiety issues. A
few calls should turn someone up.
Much peace to you and your little guy!!
~Rachael
___________________________________________
Rachael A. Porter
Mama to Eliza (5.5y), Benjamin (almost 4y) and Harrison (just 2y)
~*~
Pregnancy, Natural Birth and Parenting Information and Support, Internet
Community, Playgroups, and More!
Visit the Nurture by Nature Network: <http://www.nurturebynature.org>
http://www.nurturebynature.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I was thinking a simple anxiety disorder as I read this post (simple,
yes, but very painful for sure!). Perhaps an evaluation by a counselor
experienced with childhood anxiety disorders could be a wonderful place
to start? The key here is EXPERIENCED with CHILDHOOD anxiety issues. A
few calls should turn someone up.
Much peace to you and your little guy!!
~Rachael
___________________________________________
Rachael A. Porter
Mama to Eliza (5.5y), Benjamin (almost 4y) and Harrison (just 2y)
~*~
Pregnancy, Natural Birth and Parenting Information and Support, Internet
Community, Playgroups, and More!
Visit the Nurture by Nature Network: <http://www.nurturebynature.org>
http://www.nurturebynature.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
coyote's corner
Hi,
Welcome to the list. I believe that my neighbor has AS. He has absolutely no social skills. He often tags along w/ us (Janis - mom & Brianna 10.5 y.o.)because he has no one but us and frankly, I feel bad. However it's becoming apparent that he feels that he can be with us all the time. I've tried to tell him that Brianna & I need time & space away from him - to no avail.
I've been severely embarrassed by some of the things he does. Sometimes his smell is so awful; he interrupts people; he sometimes talks in the third person and as a baby as in "Robbie tired. Robbie go to bed" while he does this huge stretch and then stares at people w/ a goofy grin. He's offended many people at the powwows. He has a hair fetish and has asked total strangers (women) if he can play w/ their hair for "an hour or two"
His home is a health hazard - food everywhere - you have to step up & over trash, dirty clothes, old food.
A woman I know who's son has been diagnosed with AS has been telling me that this man has it.
I can tell you more, but I need to know how to get through to him w/o hurting his feelings.
How can I make it so he isn't standing there pleading w/ us to come w/ us?
He's 43 and has a great job.
He also looks very strange.
He dyes his very long, straw-like hair a dead black....
any suggestions??
Janis
Welcome to the list. I believe that my neighbor has AS. He has absolutely no social skills. He often tags along w/ us (Janis - mom & Brianna 10.5 y.o.)because he has no one but us and frankly, I feel bad. However it's becoming apparent that he feels that he can be with us all the time. I've tried to tell him that Brianna & I need time & space away from him - to no avail.
I've been severely embarrassed by some of the things he does. Sometimes his smell is so awful; he interrupts people; he sometimes talks in the third person and as a baby as in "Robbie tired. Robbie go to bed" while he does this huge stretch and then stares at people w/ a goofy grin. He's offended many people at the powwows. He has a hair fetish and has asked total strangers (women) if he can play w/ their hair for "an hour or two"
His home is a health hazard - food everywhere - you have to step up & over trash, dirty clothes, old food.
A woman I know who's son has been diagnosed with AS has been telling me that this man has it.
I can tell you more, but I need to know how to get through to him w/o hurting his feelings.
How can I make it so he isn't standing there pleading w/ us to come w/ us?
He's 43 and has a great job.
He also looks very strange.
He dyes his very long, straw-like hair a dead black....
any suggestions??
Janis
----- Original Message -----
From: Alison Reynolds
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 8:38 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Re:TV watching = anxiety?
First a quick intro. We're a life learning family in Wellington, New Zealand
way down under. There are Alison (yrs truly and Mum), Richard (Dad), Josh
16, Carrie 15, Tom 13 on July 4, Shannon (f) 11 on June 20, Jacob 6 and Lucy
3. I've been lurking for a week or so having just joined AlwaysLearning.
Sylvia - Reading your post Asperger Syndrome sprung to mind. We have a
daughter we think as a young lady with AS - Carrie. She has food issues
(sensitivities), and many other 'intersting' facets to her personality. She
obsesses about different things, is touchy-feely (less so than she used to
be -used to be great fun in shops!) I do find that Carrie will become
over-stimulated with TV sometimes. She seems to be learning to self-limit
now.
I'd encourage you to do some reading about Aspergers - which is on the
autism spectrum. There are several sites on the internet and some good
books. One of the most encouraging books I have read is called 'Son-rise:
the miracle continues' by Barry Kaufman. It is that story of a family whose
son displayed severely autistic behaviour and they developed their own way
of working with him against the trends of the day which were and still
largely are based on behaviour modification. Basically they accepted his
behaviour and allowed him to be himself.
We try to do this with our daughter as well as helping her learn to consider
the needs of other family members or folk in general. A balancing act!
www.tonyattwood.com - one of the leading Drs on AS
www.aspennj.org
www.autism.org
These are ones I have found info from. There are links to other sites as
well I think.
Regards, Alison
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deborah Lewis
***Recently, he's developed some real anxiety issues -- ***
Before I started worrying about disorders and such, I'd just give it
time.
My son went through a similar anxious period at about this age. He
didn't want draperies left open after dark, he didn't want to be alone in
a room with an open window. He didn't want to be in his bedroom by
himself. He found certain noises disturbing and static snow on TV
really scared him.
We just offered him whatever comfort and help and support he was asking
for, reminded him often that he was safe and gave it time. He still
doesn't like to go into the basement by himself - it's a cellar, really,
and he'd rather have the draperies closed after dark, but he's not
anxious about it.
He's eleven now and he says his only real fear is that I will stay on the
trampoline all day and not make dinner. <G>
I think a desire to understand these things makes us look for a cause, a
disorder of some sort, and what it might be is a kid just coming to
realize he's an individual in the world, separate from his parents and
susceptible to lurking dangers. Most kids get past it, the ones who
don't grow up to be my little Jewish mother. <g>
Deb L
Before I started worrying about disorders and such, I'd just give it
time.
My son went through a similar anxious period at about this age. He
didn't want draperies left open after dark, he didn't want to be alone in
a room with an open window. He didn't want to be in his bedroom by
himself. He found certain noises disturbing and static snow on TV
really scared him.
We just offered him whatever comfort and help and support he was asking
for, reminded him often that he was safe and gave it time. He still
doesn't like to go into the basement by himself - it's a cellar, really,
and he'd rather have the draperies closed after dark, but he's not
anxious about it.
He's eleven now and he says his only real fear is that I will stay on the
trampoline all day and not make dinner. <G>
I think a desire to understand these things makes us look for a cause, a
disorder of some sort, and what it might be is a kid just coming to
realize he's an individual in the world, separate from his parents and
susceptible to lurking dangers. Most kids get past it, the ones who
don't grow up to be my little Jewish mother. <g>
Deb L
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/12/2003 5:58:01 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
ddzimlew@... writes:
I remember toddlers going through phases of being afraid of slides, then not,
then afraid again,then not. It seemed as normal as some other patterns, like
kids using grammar rules "wrong" by trying to apply regular-verb rules to the
irregular verbs they've been using correctly for years. It's like another
normal level of awareness and development.
Tonight Marty and I went to a banjo lesson. I brought him home, let him out
and went to Kinko's for just under ten minutes. When I got back, Holly came
running around from the side yard, with a portable phone.
She had called a friend of ours, same friend she called last time she got
spooked, and told her someone slammed the front door and turned on the TV, but no
car was here.
She handed me the phone, I reassured Lisa, apologized, thanked her, and told
Holly "I can't leave you alone anymore."
That upset Holly because she didn't want to go with us, could have gone with
Keith to pick Kirby up, but she chose not to.
I hugged her and told her bad guys wouldn't slam the door and turn on the TV.
I asked her to remember to trust the dog. "Was Gudrun scared?"
"No."
I feel sorry for her. And I asked Marty next time he comes in alone to
announce himself.
She has not always been so skittish. She won't always be, either. I think
she's going through a phase of thoughts and fears and this is how she's dealing
with them.
There were neighbors home she could have gone to had it been a true emergency
and not just spookiness.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ddzimlew@... writes:
> I think a desire to understand these things makes us look for a cause, aI agree.
> disorder of some sort, and what it might be is a kid just coming to
> realize he's an individual in the world, separate from his parents and
> susceptible to lurking dangers.
I remember toddlers going through phases of being afraid of slides, then not,
then afraid again,then not. It seemed as normal as some other patterns, like
kids using grammar rules "wrong" by trying to apply regular-verb rules to the
irregular verbs they've been using correctly for years. It's like another
normal level of awareness and development.
Tonight Marty and I went to a banjo lesson. I brought him home, let him out
and went to Kinko's for just under ten minutes. When I got back, Holly came
running around from the side yard, with a portable phone.
She had called a friend of ours, same friend she called last time she got
spooked, and told her someone slammed the front door and turned on the TV, but no
car was here.
She handed me the phone, I reassured Lisa, apologized, thanked her, and told
Holly "I can't leave you alone anymore."
That upset Holly because she didn't want to go with us, could have gone with
Keith to pick Kirby up, but she chose not to.
I hugged her and told her bad guys wouldn't slam the door and turn on the TV.
I asked her to remember to trust the dog. "Was Gudrun scared?"
"No."
I feel sorry for her. And I asked Marty next time he comes in alone to
announce himself.
She has not always been so skittish. She won't always be, either. I think
she's going through a phase of thoughts and fears and this is how she's dealing
with them.
There were neighbors home she could have gone to had it been a true emergency
and not just spookiness.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/12/03 7:52:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
the evil tooth fairy who kills anyone who actually looks at her. They have
always loved scary movies. They couldn't wait to see this one. We watched it at
our next door neighbor's house and when we got home they were petrified. At
first I thought they were being funny and joking around. They asked if they could
sleep in our room, which they do all the time without asking, but I think
they wanted reassurance that daddy was gonna sleep close enough to get anyone who
threatened his babies. Phil, DH, was shocked too. He also thought they were
pulling our legs. They laid down and went in to this long discussion about not
wanting to lose their last tooth. Which happened to be loose in both of their
mouths. Phil and I giggled as we settled into bed. Sparky, our dog, sat up
quickly, hearing another neighbors Hummer drive up and the girls went balistic. I
mean they screamed the kind of scream that makes your blood go cold. Phil
jumped out of bed and said "What the F**k?" I on the other hand was ROBLMAO. I
said, "Kevin just got home!" So although he hadn't been scared by the movie, he
had been by the shreek of our daughters screams. When they all realized what I
had said, the girls started to cry and Phil was just a little ticked at his
own instincts. All I could do is crack up. In the end, they were all mad at me,
so I got up to watch TV in the family room. Still laughing, I grabbed a
blanket, and as I headed for the hallway with Sparky in tow, the girls screamed
again!!! "Don't go out there alone mommy!" I literally fell to the ground dying
with laughter. I am not a scary movie watcher, so the fact that these three
scary movie addicts had frightened themselves to such a degree, was just more
than I could take. I came back to bed and took another half an hour to stop
laughing.
Needless to say they lost that last tooth, but forgot all about the movie
when the fairy had left them $5. How quickly their fears disapate when $$$ is
involved.LOL
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
> She has not always been so skittish. She won't always be, either. I thinkPoor Holly. Kass and Kree recently watched the movie "Darkness Falls" about
>
> she's going through a phase of thoughts and fears and this is how she's
> dealing
> with them
the evil tooth fairy who kills anyone who actually looks at her. They have
always loved scary movies. They couldn't wait to see this one. We watched it at
our next door neighbor's house and when we got home they were petrified. At
first I thought they were being funny and joking around. They asked if they could
sleep in our room, which they do all the time without asking, but I think
they wanted reassurance that daddy was gonna sleep close enough to get anyone who
threatened his babies. Phil, DH, was shocked too. He also thought they were
pulling our legs. They laid down and went in to this long discussion about not
wanting to lose their last tooth. Which happened to be loose in both of their
mouths. Phil and I giggled as we settled into bed. Sparky, our dog, sat up
quickly, hearing another neighbors Hummer drive up and the girls went balistic. I
mean they screamed the kind of scream that makes your blood go cold. Phil
jumped out of bed and said "What the F**k?" I on the other hand was ROBLMAO. I
said, "Kevin just got home!" So although he hadn't been scared by the movie, he
had been by the shreek of our daughters screams. When they all realized what I
had said, the girls started to cry and Phil was just a little ticked at his
own instincts. All I could do is crack up. In the end, they were all mad at me,
so I got up to watch TV in the family room. Still laughing, I grabbed a
blanket, and as I headed for the hallway with Sparky in tow, the girls screamed
again!!! "Don't go out there alone mommy!" I literally fell to the ground dying
with laughter. I am not a scary movie watcher, so the fact that these three
scary movie addicts had frightened themselves to such a degree, was just more
than I could take. I came back to bed and took another half an hour to stop
laughing.
Needless to say they lost that last tooth, but forgot all about the movie
when the fairy had left them $5. How quickly their fears disapate when $$$ is
involved.LOL
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
OK so I just posted a minute ago, but you know how much I talk...
Tonite we watched 2 episodes of the O'Keefe's, in fact it's only 10 minutes
into the second episode and I'm cracking up. Maybe I'm just in a residual
laughing mode remembering the scary movie thing, but this family is a total crack
up. I know there was a big upheaval by several HS'ing groups over it, but it's
so funny. When the dad used his thumbs up sign and shook it to mean maybe, I
fell apart. It seems to me the show is actually more about all that is wrong
with school and how much more these kids are actually prepared for in life,
than the eclectic family they are supposed to be. While they are in school, they
seem to be teaching everyone else, including the teachers.
Just my 2 cents.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tonite we watched 2 episodes of the O'Keefe's, in fact it's only 10 minutes
into the second episode and I'm cracking up. Maybe I'm just in a residual
laughing mode remembering the scary movie thing, but this family is a total crack
up. I know there was a big upheaval by several HS'ing groups over it, but it's
so funny. When the dad used his thumbs up sign and shook it to mean maybe, I
fell apart. It seems to me the show is actually more about all that is wrong
with school and how much more these kids are actually prepared for in life,
than the eclectic family they are supposed to be. While they are in school, they
seem to be teaching everyone else, including the teachers.
Just my 2 cents.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/12/2003 3:10:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
janis@... writes:
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
janis@... writes:
> He's 43 and has a great job.I think I'd call the mental health people. Seriously.
> He also looks very strange.
>
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]