Week 8 - Strength and Green

20 things you may not know about my beautiful son Damon...

1. He is super sweet.
2. He is very intelligent.
3. He has a wonderful sense of humor.  He is always cracking us up with his funny remarks.
4. He hates crowds.
5. He is very sensitive to sounds, sights, and smells; hence the hating being in crowds.
6. Loves to be home chill-laxing. He gets home-sick if he's away from me for too long.
7. Sleeps with his Teddy Bear - Cj every night.  Even makes me kiss and bless the bear too.
8. Always looks out the window to see where the sun/moon is positioned.  This is how he tells time.  He knows how to tell time by looking at a clock, he just chooses to look for the sun/moon instead.
9. He absolutely refuses to wear anything that is tight, has buttons, or zippers.  He always wants to wear really soft comfy clothes.  When we are home, he only wears jammies.
10. He gives the best "Bear Hugs."
11. He wants everyone around him to be happy.
12. He is very empathetic.  He hates it when someone is sick or hurt, even if they are complete strangers. He is known to cry for a fictional character in a book or in a cartoon.
13. He hates scary movies.  He doesn't even want me to watch them.  He gets upset if he sees a preview for a scary movie and usually runs and hides.
14. He communicates with Jassy telepathically or with hand signals.  The other day he hit her on the head (she didn't cry, it was more of a pat) and when I asked him why he did that, he said "I had a message in my head for her and she wasn't listening, so I got it from my head by hitting my head and sent it to her by hitting her head."  Jassy's response was "Yeah Mom!"
15. Very picky eater.  For the most part he doesn't even like candy.
16.   Never goes outside without his heavy coat, hat and snow boots.  It's always a challenge when the weather gets warmer to tell him he doesn't need all those things.  But he had a really bad ear infection last year and wants to make sure it never happens again.  That, and he really hates being cold.
17. Gets really irritable if he goes to long without eating or drinking something.  He is probably hypoglycemic like me.
18. Refuses to admit if he took a nap, even if he's sick.  "Naps are for babies!"
19. He is amazing at playing video games.
20. He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder in September...

So what does that mean?  It means that he has trouble staying focused and sometimes he needs simple reminders to stay on task.  Sometimes a gentle tap on the shoulder, softly calling his name, or a simple look, reminds him that he has a task at hand.  He does not have a learning disability, he just learns differently then most of the students his age.

When I think of strength, the first thing that comes to my mind is, Damon.  I really want to be able to give him everything that he needs, so I ask GOD for strength every night.  And every morning when I send him to school, I ask GOD to give Damon the strength to get through all the difficult tasks he has in front of him.

Strength does not come from winning.  Your struggles develop your strengths.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.  ~Arnold Schwarzenegger

P.S.  My picture for green will hopefully be done later this week...