My son, J, is currently 8 (almost 9)
His sister, S, is currently 7.
Just yesterday, S mentioned to me how last year she and J
Possible trigger:
trapped a bird in our backyard in one of their toys. They trapped this small, baby bird and left it. It was enclosed in a plastic toy. The next day, they opened the toy and saw bird poop everywhere. That was the main focus in her story. After she mentioned the bird poop, she also mentioned how the bird had died. But the issue, for her...and for her brother...was that there was bird poop everywhere and they had to clean the toy, which they still have.
It took a year for them to tell me this story. The fact the bird died wasn't the initial focus of her story to me. Her brother walked away as she told the story and left completely to go finish watching a show he was watching on TV.
These children are not children who are normally callous. They usually show a concern for people, J less so than S.
Another concern is that I am constantly having to discuss with J that animals can be afraid, upset, and that he should leave them alone. He chases after animals, including birds, in our backyard...after he had already killed one.
J has ADHD and began taking medication at the beginning of this year. He has presented with a few "odd" behaviors. He is afraid at the mere sight of fire alarms. He can be aggressive and self-centered around his sister. He dodges cameras in stores. He drops to the floor, hiding from the camera.
His teachers always give good reports. His special education teacher has even told me that J is an example to other children when it comes to playing games and how he is OK if he loses a game.
Has anyone else's child or children done something similar?