The Misunderstood Child

Last night, I went into Elijah’s room to put him to bed.   He was sadly drawing a picture, while sitting on the floor of his room. “What are you drawing?” I asked.                 “A picture about why I am sad about tomorrow,” he told me. “Is that you in the picture?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. “It looks like you are in jail.” I said. “A jail called Highland,” he explained with sadness in his eyes. I immediately had to hold back tears. Highland is the name of his school. He feels like he is in jail when he is there. On a Sunday night like this one, he was full of anxiety about going back to a place where he feels all alone and misunderstood. I had to do what I do every Sunday night, which is get into bed with him and give him a pep talk, pray with him, hold him tight, and tell him how much I love him until he falls asleep. Then, I have to carry his pain with me as I leave his roo...

Elijah is in the process of undergoing psychological testing right now. He has been telling the psychologist all about why he doesn’t like school. It was heartbreaking to hear some of the things she said that he told her. He is in first grade, and he is already very aware of the fact that he does not fit in and that people are annoyed by him. He doesn’t understand why, because he has no awareness of the deficit in his social skills, he just knows that for whatever reason, no one wants to be his friend. He also feels like none of the teachers like him because all he does is get in trouble. I know they are trying so hard with him. I am not trying to blame them.   I know he is not easy to help. But, I can’t imagine what it must be like spending all day, every day, surrounded by people you perceive as tired of dealing with you, on top of the fact that you are already struggling. But, day in and day out he has to go there. And he is expected not only to show up, but to do the wor...