learning to let go

A call from Sunny Patch and discussion of silent tears over a girl. He's always been attached to her, too much. He wants to be in her class. He barrels over kids to get her attention from afar. He yells hello to her across the way when everyone else is standing quietly at pick up. He writes her letters and writes her more letters. Begs me to see her. Wants to sit next to her. Wants to be her next door neighbor. Mom, he tells me, she's my best friend and I love her. And all year I have had to manage this, talk about giving someone space even if you love them, understanding everyone has the right to have other friends. For God's sake, it's like he's 16 years old or something. And you know what? I think the little blue pill. It makes this part of it worse. Everyday I've gotten the report that he's doing his work, lately, and doing it well, but everyday I also hear that he just can't stop thinking about and talking about her.... I told the school psychologist. We have no choice but to break this... 'habit'. Introduce and replace with other things and people to think about whenever possible.

It's a common kind of issue with kids with Belac's diagnosis, she murmured.

Ugh. Why do people make these kinds of comments? So we're going to give up on him, is that it?

It's what happens when any person loves someone else deeply... I corrected. Everyone has to learn to manage their emotions.

They were in the same class, last year, and it was easier and healthier in so many ways because they were always near each other and there was that security. Now he barely sees her in school and overreacts upon seeing her and is always looking for her. It's endearing in a way, he chose the sweetest kid, but he also needs to learn how to just deal. And so that he was crying silently but still doing his work and not disrupting others? That's coping. He's dealing. He's learning.