Big Chief

These first few pictures were taken on the last day of school in May.  I had to document one of the OCD issues of my oldest son.  At his recent IEP meeting, the teachers all laughed and groaned about his "pile."  I was unaware of the pile. 

On the first day of school, Brevan's backpack was already so full he couldn't zip it all the way.  He carried it around to every class during the day and home every afternoon.  I kept telling him to leave all the books in his locker if he didn't have homework to complete.  He refused, and I realized it brings him comfort to make sure he has every book he may need during the day.  He hates to be tardy for class, so it stresses him out to have to go to his locker inbetween classes.

Back to the "pile."  I was aware that Brevan's backpack is a black hole.  But this is a whole differnt ballgame.  Apparently, Brevan carried his backpack on his shoulders every day while carrying this ENTIRE stack of papers in his arms.  His teachers would often get frustrated and challenge him to find a certain paper in his unorganized mess of papers.  He would quickly sift through the stack and hand them the paper.  As I sat in the IEP, I heard over and over again how annoying - yet efficient - his paper stack was. 

Brevan has severe issues with disorganization and hoarding.  He doesn't think ANYTHING should ever be thrown away, just in case it is desired again one day.  It.  Drives.  Me.  Crazy.  So my awesome boy was shuffling down the school halls every day with this armload of papers.  When I asked him why he didn't utilize the expensive folder I bought him at the beginning of the school year, he told me he did and pointed to the large folder at the bottom of the stack, telling me it served as the stabilizer.

This one really got me . . .the paper of the bottom of his stack (which he carried around with him every day) was the lunch menu for last October.  What in the world, child???

Other Brevan moments:

All the Missouri kids going into 8th grade need to get a simple immunization this summer.  After my last few adventures with him to the doctor office (where he screamed, hit and kicked the doctor so many times that I was told he needed to be sedated before coming again), I had Ryan take him to this appointment.  Somehow, Ryan had not fully believed me when I explained the extent of the kicking and punching.  He was rather surprised to witness the tantrum and agreed to never take him near a doctor office in the future without doping him up on Xanax (and possibly taking one himself).  The shot was finally administered, but not until Brevan left several bruises on the nurses holding him down.

Brevan had a piano recital a few weeks ago, and has improved so much this year!  I am so proud of this boy and his musical abilities.  I never have to tell him to practice piano, because he plays for stress relief.  He will often sit at the piano for an hour or two during the day.  He even asked to continue piano lessons through the summer.  I wish I'd taken a picture of him on recital day, because he was so nervous but did such a fabulous job with his two song pieces.

This kid is a serious Chess expert.  He studies chess and reviews chess moves daily.  Every Monday he plays in a Chess league, and we have even paid for a few private lessons with a professional Chess player. 

Brevan is on track to finish his Eagle Scout award at the age of 14.  Not only that, but he LOVES Scout campouts and passing off the needed requirements.  He is one of the hardest workers at the monthly campouts, and comes home in a very positive, helpful mood.  I wish he could go to a Scout campout every weekend!

Brevan dreams of purchasing his own laptop, so he dutifully gets out on the lawn mower and cuts our grass every week.  It's quite an undertaking, but he's starting to bring in the big bucks with his hard work.

Besides Chess, Scouts and piano, Brevan's life revolves around MineCraft and Mythbusters.