PCS - The Perfect Child Syndrome

Deena Weinberg

I met my friend the other day,
Her face was pale and drawn
The smile that once lit up her face
Was clearly all but gone
 
"what's wrong," I asked, "is all ok?"
She sighed and shook her head
"if you have time, I'd love to talk,
And share my pain," she said.
 
And so we sat, my friend and I,
I bent an attentive ear
As my friend began her tear-drenched tale
Of worries and of fear
 
"It's Moish, you see, my 8 year old,
He's doing well at school.
His teachers say his grades are tops
His notebooks always full"
 
"is he too bored?" I thought I knew
"and therefore misbehaves?"
"no," she heaved, "oh, you should hear
His rebbi how he raves
 
"he loves to learn, he sits so still
And listens to every word
He raises his hand, he is involved
In class he's never bored."

"is it his friends?" I asked again
"is that what's worrying you?"
"Oh no," she laughted, "they love him so
He's at the top there too"
 
"So then what's wrong?" I was amazed
"it all sounds just ideal,"
My friend then pulled a tissue out
And spoke through streaming tears
 
"We've been everywhere," she said to me
"we shlepped him countless times,
We tried to find what could be wrong
With this perfect child of mine.
 
"What have we missed, what might be off
How could we be so blind
There must be something going on
If only we could find
 
"you know they say it all depends
On when you catch the signs
If you don't start treating soon enough
You may lose precious time!"
 
Aha, I thought, another case,
And whispered to her ear
"I think I know, I think I've found
The answer to your fears.
 
"Recently some researchers
have discovered a puzzling gene
It's called the "Perfect Child Syndrome"
It's sometimes to be seen
 
"A child with PCS may be
Just perfect all around,
It's strange, I know, it's pretty rare
But it's something to be found
 
"PCS may go untreated
For any length of time
For all the afflicted child need
Is lots of smiles and calm."
 
"Oh!" she breathed, with gaping eyes
"You've eased my burden so!
You've calmed me down, removed the load
It was something I didn't know!
 
"I now feel safe, I know all's well
Oh, the relief that I feel!
My perfect son's condition now
Has finally been revealed!"