A bit of a setback with Joey, but also a bit of a step backwards.  He has had a tendency in the past to over-react to being hurt.  He is fine when he knows it is coming eg the dentist.  Indeed, he is very brave and good.  But any sudden shock is different.  On Saturday, we were coming back from the neighbours house, on the way to the town Xmas-tree lighting ceremony, when he ran into a sharp branch, which gave him a dig in the belly.  You would have thought that it had punctured a hole in his stomach.  Problem is, although on this occasion it was probably quite painful and worthy of sympathy, we simply don't know and therefore he did not get much sympathy, despite screaming his head off.  He then ran off, calling us mean.  Calmed down after a while but we have had to speak to him again about this.  Not only does it open him up to being laughed at by other kids, but we really can never tell if there is anything serious or not.

This had followed on from rather disruptive behaviour at school on Friday.  Nothing too serious but enough that we were told about it.

On the plus side, last night Joey actually attempted to read a proper book by himself.  Anne was reading to him at bed-time, and talking about it and she was saying that, with all his progress in reading, he would be able to read a proper book if he tried.  Now, we are not talking War and Peace here, but at least a book that has some interest for him.  Until now, he has only been able to read very simple books, where the story-line is really for very young kids and not of much interest to him.  Joey was reluctant to try and did so, Anne suspects, to prove her wrong.  But he managed it OK and was pleased with himself.  If he keeps up the progress, I think that he will soon find that he can read interesting books.  Which, in turn, will hopefully motivate him to work even harder at his school work.  So, all rather positive.