My youngest son: The cause of my laugh lines and all my grey hair.

If you haven't picked up on it somewhat by now, let me cease any ambiguity and just out-and-out tell you: Reece is a handfull. I often joke he is the reason for all of my budding grey hair.
Reece is funny, smart, sweet, very entertaining, he can be amazingly empathetic at times... But he also has some problems with his temper, focus, and emotional maturity (even for a six year old). To the point that it's often a concern.
Reece has had a delay in his language skills; we've had him screened and tested several times by a myriad of doctors, clinicians and other sundry experts. His physical formation of speech has improved a thousandfold over the past few years, so that's not really a concern any longer, but he does struggle constantly with language comprehension and processing. Again, we're seeking the right solutions along all the right avenues. It could be a learning disability, it could be a neurological problem, it could just be something he'll have to grow out of, who knows? We're exploring all options as best we can.
This comprehension problem has contributed to some of his outbursts and problems with frustration and anger, no doubt. But my gut tells me there is some need in him that we haven't laid our hands on yet, and still have yet to uncover and meet.
We have been BLESSED with some wonderful teachers the past few years. His preschool teachers were perfect in their caring and intuitiveness with him. The exact same can be said for his kindergarten teacher last year. Wonderful women, all of them, and we are always grateful for them each.
But then we move to a new community, without knowing what we'd be getting into or what kind of teachers our children would land... And God directed Reece's path to *THIS* particular First Grade teacher. She is absolutely wonderful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. What a relief to send this wonderful Handfull to her very capable and genuinely caring hands five days a week.
No parent wants their child to be "the difficult one." I tell Reece's teacher that all the time; we're trying very hard to steer him in the direction of model behavior and cooperativeness, for her sake as well as his! She has enough on her plate as it is, without Reece's meltdowns. But she is wonderful with him, and we're so grateful that Reece has THIS teacher at THIS time in his life.

It's not all struggle and worry with Reece. Know this: That funny, smart, sweet-natured-ness is the real Reece, and it gives us laughs and joy more often in the day than frustration or concern. We just have to get the Real Reece to shine through more evenly and consistently. Through God's guidance, and all the expert help we can get our hands on, he will. The Real Reece is the source of all my laugh lines creeping across my face. And bring on some more, I say!