Mr. Mateo

I figure since it has been OH SO LONG since I have blogged, I better give an update about everyone. Mateo has changed from a very outgoing individual to being very SHY. I think that after years of being Tino's spokesperson (who is so painfully shy he would rather crawl under a rock then look you in the eye, shake your hand, and say "hello") and for doing all of the talking for speech-delayed Sarah, he just threw in the towel. I've never known a person that will say "I AM SHY." Mateo can not control Tino's baseball performance nor Sarah's ups and downs that go along with her seizure disorder or sensory processing disorder. However, Mateo has learned that he can control how much he does or does not talk and interact with others.

Although he chooses to be "shy", he has developed an ability to write. He writes ALL DAY LONG. I have scraps and scraps of paper scattered throughout my entire house with notes he has written. He might not be on speaking terms with you, but he has no problem writing a note. (I just did a major house cleaning/note throwing away session yesterday. Give it another day or two and I will scan some of his notes.)

Some of my favorites: "Mateo is an excillent lisener." "Heidi, I love you so much." (He crumpled up that note because Tino told him it wasn't respectful to call your mom by her first name). "Mateo is a car rider on Monday. Heidi Ramírez." (Um, I didn't learn to write notes to the teacher/school until I was in the 9th GRADE. I had to explain to Mateo that he would get into very big trouble if he wrote notes to the school AND signed my name. He has now left the signature part to me.)

Some of my not so favorite notes: "I don't like you any more Tino. You are NOT MY BROTHER!" or "You are STUPID Sarah." Last week Mateo was on a naughty note-writing streak. I CALMLY went into the office and wrote Mateo a note. I didn't address it to him, I just set it next to his stash of paper and pencils. My note said: "Santa visits children who are NICE. Kids who write NAUGHTY notes will not be getting any presents this year." I think Mateo got the message because he let out a big giant SIGH and then went running into his room CRYING big alligator tears. He then was yelling from his closed bedroom door "But I didn't know. I didn't know. I will be nice."

Out of all three kids, Mateo is the most challenging. He is my super sentimental/gentle giant on one hand, but then has these uncontrollable fits of rage and breakdowns that come OUT OF NOWHERE. I anxiously await the day that his maturity level can catch up with his intelligence. There is a huge discrepancy and it frustrates him to no end. Lately I have noticed him reverting back to how he was last year when he started talking about life and . . . death. I am TRYING to help him find his niche. I am TRYING to help him be happy. I am TRYING to give him special one on one time so he doesn't get lost in the cracks between Sarah and Tino. All I can say is . . . I am TRYING. I hope he knows how much I do love him . . . naughty or nice.