Joey has us all rather traumatised and upset today as well.  On the whole, his behaviour is great but there are times when he just loses it and cannot seem to control his angry reactions to what are often trivial events.

It is Valentines Day here (and on that subject I will only say that it really is an over-commercialised pain in the backside, with kids both bringing homes loads of crap) and we picked up Joey first before going on to Izzy's school where the kids were going to show off some work etc.  Joey, very sweetly, had brought a cup-cake and a flower on a long stem for Izzy.  Lovely and smiles all around until the stem broke.  When Joey saw this, he threw a wobbly in the school and ran out.  Rest of the day was spent repairing the damage.

The problem we face with Joey is that he so needs to build up his confidence and self0esteem but still gets too many things wrong.  Not drastically, generally, but it takes great patience top get Joey moving and focussed and to behave appropriately.  He is still immature and does not always read social signs very well.  Hard to know the exact reasons for all this - linked to his dyslexia, some residual anger, some ADDH tendencies.  But it is too easy to find yourself always on his back, chivvying him along, nagging him.  Then he breaks down and cries about how he feels he can never get anything right, feels under so much pressure and it breaks your heart.  Thing is, he is smart and loving and so close to being a typical 8yr old, a bit naughty at times. But he is not quite there and this is compounded - in a strange way - by his intelligence, energy and refusal to back down.  Minor issues then escalate into major ones.  Noone ever said that raising kids was easy.