Malika
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, nothing like a difficult child to keep you humble. No chance to rest on my laurels (such as they are). Tonight I picked J up from after-school care at 6.30 and he said he wanted to get his bike. I said okay, as long as he stays at the top of the village. He disappeared, got his bike and then started riding down to the bottom of the village. I shouted at him to stop, which he eventually, did. I told him to come back, he then started rolling on the ground and crying, all the usual histrionics. I said he was absolutely not to go on the road by himself and was to come back up. He still wouldn't come, made a scene within earshot of all the houses around - a sign of my progress or general degradation, one or the other, is that I don't even care any more. Finally I used the one thing that really touches him, which is that he would watch no television on the weekend if he did and just went back up by myself. He appeared not too long after, all excited because the older boy he lives near us (who seemed to be getting into bullying J before the summer but they now seem to be friends again) was wearing his rugby gear and J wanted to go out and play with him. Meantime I was actually on the phone to my ex-husband in Morocco asking him to talk to J because he will not listen to me about not going on the road and it is dangerous. Not probably because J does actually have some road sense and because this is small village where people drive slowly but potentially - he is five years old, ADHD, and it's just not safe to trust him alone. My ex-husband did speak to J, who barely seemed to listen...
Eventually I got him inside. He has started having homework and tonight had to practice reading the indefinite and definite articles in French, simple little words. I was very gentle with him, full of praise, but it's obvious he hasn't really got a clue and is simply not ready for reading. I have asked to go in and see the teacher on Thursday who, it is clear from a brief exchange I've had with him, seems sympathetic enough but, surprise, surprise, doesn't know what ADHD is, what it involves or how you might deal with it.
Sigh. Just getting the armour out to polish it up a bit.
Eventually I got him inside. He has started having homework and tonight had to practice reading the indefinite and definite articles in French, simple little words. I was very gentle with him, full of praise, but it's obvious he hasn't really got a clue and is simply not ready for reading. I have asked to go in and see the teacher on Thursday who, it is clear from a brief exchange I've had with him, seems sympathetic enough but, surprise, surprise, doesn't know what ADHD is, what it involves or how you might deal with it.
Sigh. Just getting the armour out to polish it up a bit.