Yesterday was the 4 year olds school Christmas play. It’s been in the diary for weeks and we’ve been rehearsing his line at home (narrator no.32!) and I thought that he was enjoying himself. Turns out I was wrong.
We filed into the school hall and waited as the little poppets came in to do their bits. My son looked glum and a little bit grey. He yawned his way through the first half, didn’t sing any of the songs, only smiled when I caught his eye and when it came to delivering his line he did it perfectly but without joy. Really, he looked like he would rather have been anywhere than there. When everyone clapped he put his hands over his ears!
It made me sad watching him. My lovely exuberant boy looking strained and constrained by the play. It made me wonder whether I have chosen the right school for him. He loves to sing at home but with his hearing problems I suspect he couldn’t hear the words at school, which is why he didn’t join in. I should have asked for a song sheet but I had no idea that he wasn’t joining in and wish the teacher had flagged to me as she knows he can’t hear. Luckily he has his next hearing consultation on Friday so hopefully we can begin to get him the right help.
I don’t feel that the teacher likes him that much, but then again she’s very stressed at the moment doing the ‘fun’ end of term activities, with a bunch of exhausted but excited children. I will try next term to volunteer in the classroom to help out, I just need to find someone to look after the twins.
At the moment the jury’s out. Is a term too early to judge whether a school is suitable for your child? I don’t want to move him unnecessarily but hate to see him looking so fed up.
