That kid

So, my son is about to be labeled as that kid, or at least that's my current fear. The kid that's separated from other kids because of what he might do, which right now is biting. He's not a consistent biter and he doesn't do it to be mean, and he only doesn't when he's teething. We have tried every teething toy on the market and I cannot find one he'll take to. I'm not as worried about the biting but a child that bites carries such a stigma. Today I watched a mom's face as my son's teacher told her that her child had been bit by someone in her class, and I watched her face change. I feel so bad that my son bit her child but I feel worse for my son. I watched my brother grow up being labeled "that" kid due to his ADHD. No one believed him or gave him a chance they just assumed he did it or it was ultimately going to be his fault. I don't want this for my child, he's a sweet kid who loves hanging around other kids. At sunday school one teacher has already labeled him and makes him sit by himself because of what "might" happen even though it's happened so infrequently she's already put a label on my child making sure to tell all the other teachers he's a biter an to watch out for him. And while I know that this is such a small drop in my son's little pond, it still makes me so upset because I can't fix it. I'm not there when he does it, I don't know what type of situation he was in that caused the biting. Was it just because his teeth hurt or was it do to some situation that stressed him out and that was what his little brain told him would relieve stress. I know my son can't be liked by everyone but I don't want him to be disliked because of something he did with from what i can tell without malice of forethought. I don't want parents to give us "the" look as we walk down the hall, or to not let their kids come play with my son. It seems silly I know, but it still worries me.

Pumpkins!

Today was pumpkin day. Well really everyday since my son has discovered pumpkins is pumpkin day. My husband decided to go a little nerdy this year and use his dancing christmas lights to make pumpkins sing. But that's a tale for another post. Today we took Noah to pettit creek farms in cartersville. Last year when we took noah to a pumpkin patch, he was fairly immobile and quite content to sit amongst the pumpkins and pound on them. Oh what a difference a year makes!! This year he's mobile, independent, and talking. All pumpkins are "pao pao", and he's quite good at making moo cow noises. Enter in pettit creek farms, it fit perfectly with our sons current obsessions. Not only did they have farm type animals, but also a hayride, bouncy house, corn maze and of course pumpkins!! The hayride was a stupendous hit, Noah just kept saying choo choo and pointing at all the animals and making his O face. He was able to feed the animals as well as throw food at them, which was awesome since throwing things is another current favorite for him. After the hayride it was off to the bouncy slides with a pit stop to feed the goats and sheep along the way. Noah felt quite independent being able to hold his own cup of food for them, although those goats and sheep were quite pushy and the curly ram was the definition of a bully. We jumped in our first bounce house and meandered through the corn maze, discovered tractors and last but not least PUMPKINS!!! Funny thing though his favorite pumpkin was a fake one made to look like a house that he had a grand time playing in with all the "big boys". To round out our country pumping trip we of course had to eat at the cracker barrel, where my son feasted on mac and cheese, chicken, rice apples, and hash brown casserole. All and all it was a great trip and I can't wait to watch this family tradition grow as our family does. Although as per usual my favorite parts of the day included watching my husband and son walk hand in hand through the corn maze, and seeing the two of them sitting on the rocking chairs outside cracker barrel sharing neccos which come to find out was something Casey and his dad used to do when he was a child. I just love to see the memories my husband makes with our son and I love that some of those memories are passed from his childhood as well.