Malika
Well-Known Member
There was a parents' meeting at the school tonight. The new teacher talked to us - he seems nice, friendly and with a sense of humour, if a little reserved, though clearly rather overwhelmed by teaching five classes (grades) altogether in one classroom, never having done that before. Twenty kids in one classroom, all arranged in little groups of tables according to age group. J at the front with his four "classmates". It's an odd system, perhaps, but one that traditionally exists in villages all over France. I don't know whether it's better or worse, frankly, than having 25 or 30 kids of the same age group all together.
Anyway after I picked J up from the garderie, he wanted to go and play with his older friend in the village. I said okay, he could choose - he had previously been given the "treat" of watching TV tonight, so I said he could either do this or play. Of course he wanted to play, it being the immediate thing. Then arrived back home shortly after the agreed time, with the help of his watch - well done, J - and I could already hear him crying dramatically up the hill. I thought he had hurt himself, but no... he was saying "I WANT TO WATCH TELEVISION". Then ensued a tantrum about wanting to watch, crying and yelling, and shuddering dramatically saying "I will die if I don't watch television!" I felt surprisingly calm, detached, just saw it all as tiredness and ADHD stuff and rode the storm... was quite gentle with him and then got him out of it by telling him a silly story that made him laugh. Supper, bath, bed followed and he is now fast asleep.
I think I have just given hope and expectation that he is going to grow out of this stuff with age. He isn't and doesn't. So I just ride the storm, I think, wait for it to blow over. I don't think he can help himself or can be corrected out of it.
Anyway after I picked J up from the garderie, he wanted to go and play with his older friend in the village. I said okay, he could choose - he had previously been given the "treat" of watching TV tonight, so I said he could either do this or play. Of course he wanted to play, it being the immediate thing. Then arrived back home shortly after the agreed time, with the help of his watch - well done, J - and I could already hear him crying dramatically up the hill. I thought he had hurt himself, but no... he was saying "I WANT TO WATCH TELEVISION". Then ensued a tantrum about wanting to watch, crying and yelling, and shuddering dramatically saying "I will die if I don't watch television!" I felt surprisingly calm, detached, just saw it all as tiredness and ADHD stuff and rode the storm... was quite gentle with him and then got him out of it by telling him a silly story that made him laugh. Supper, bath, bed followed and he is now fast asleep.
I think I have just given hope and expectation that he is going to grow out of this stuff with age. He isn't and doesn't. So I just ride the storm, I think, wait for it to blow over. I don't think he can help himself or can be corrected out of it.
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