I hear story after story: parents who didn’t notice a six year old’s pattern of sloppiness and frustration until a first grade teacher suggested occupational therapy; parents who didn’t hear their seven year old’s lisp until the child himself pointed it out and asked for help; a family who hadn’t a hint that their middle daughter was throwing up after every meal until the plumber explained that’s why the pipes had corroded; an ADHD diagnosis after years of parents telling their child she could do better if she’d just put her mind to it.

…

One of my most haunting memories is of back when my older son was seven and he hurt his leg on the playground. It wasn’t swollen or discolored. I full out accused him of milking a minor hurt. I even insisted that he walk on it. When I took him for x-rays 24 hours later, the films showed a god-awful fracture. Looking at them I was flattened by one thought: If he was in that much pain, how come I didn’t feel it?

Motherlode, Lisa Belkin, New York Times Magazine

January 24th, 2009 | Category: overheard | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL