NEXT!

 

Our final birthday for the year!

This guy, still a "Boogie," turned 14.

Instead of traveling, he was able to stay home and get his complete birthday menu.

He has shot up several inches this year and so now I am dwarfed by four.

I wasn't sure if I was going to share or not, but we also made a discovery.

 

This kid has always been quiet/shy/reserved around people.

We've been trying to "get him out of his shell" for years now with no success.

In the course of this year I came across the term "selective mutism" and/or "situational mutism."

Wouldn't you know, it describes our Boogie to a T.  Literally every aspect of it.

We followed up with our general practitioner who agrees and though we don't have an official diagnosis, (that would come from a psychologist) we have answers!

It is not just shyness..nor is it rudeness or defiance.  This is anxiety-based and literally shuts him down. Now most of the research on this deals with very young children, as a teen we obviously need different strategies.  We have the contact info for some therapies, but for the time being we are working on it. It is absolutely something that can be overcome, with hard work.  I may share some more about this at another time, but for the time being, to those who know him--Patience and Prayers.

We hope you had a wonderful birthday!!