Fragile

Reading a topic on a parenting website: What do I do about a teacher bullying my child?

A potential minefield of drama waiting to be entered. We all know as parents we can be overprotective of our little darlings, we all are familiar with that lioness roaring from within when one of our cubs is unhappy.

But seriously, if your child was being bullied (and I do not use that term lightly) by a teacher what would you do? If you had watched the reaction of other teachers at other complaints, and that pack mentality scared you, what steps would you take?

If the principal told you "Be prepared, if you follow through this will be bigger than Ben Hur..." would you still take action? Especially if they were someone whose opinion you trusted?

If you thought your child was resilient, they seemed to be coping, there was only to the end of the year to get through, they nor their sibling was prepared to consider changing schools, would you let it ride?

Would you?

And if that year of being held up to ridicule, being belittled, having the teacher lead the other children in actions somewhat resembling Lord of the Flies, if that then changed your kid into a fearful, anxious, angry child, what could you do, how would you feel?

These are people we entrust with our children's well being...

Scared, fragile, damaged. Humpty Dumpty was never put together again. EVER.

Camp Revelations

Son no. 2

We have just returned from a 3 day/2 night camp stay with the Grade 4s and 5s. A wonderful year for me to go (DH went last year) as it is the first time both my sons have been on the same camp and this will not occur again until 2011. It has been a great learning experience for all. I am proud of both my children, they stepped up to the challenges and coped with it all admirably. Bar a few meltdowns/temper tantrums, I won't dob on who did what but I am sure you can work it out if you have read my blog previously.

I relished watching the behaviour of adults and children alike, free from the shackles of parental expectations and schoolground restrictions. The kids you least expected to cope appeared to blossom and mature, taking on roles never seen before. Others, well, lets just say I hope the parents read the letters they were forced to write to explain their behaviour, and have a little chat, though even their transgressions were minor (unforunately it was the denial and not accepting responsibility for their choices which was far more disappointing).

Son no. 1

Okay, I lied, I am going to dob on who did what...

My oldest has a bug phobia and a tick allergy, so attending a bush/farmstay camp in the middle of nowhere was always going to pose issues but he pushed his limitations and expanded his world far beyond my wildest dreams or expecations. I am so proud of him I could burst. Though we had a lot of screaming terror over March flies, wasps and ticks, he managed to rein it in pretty quickly and participated in nearly every activity.

Son no. 2 coped well, as expected, but by midday on the final day he lost it over having to wait his turn for food. He was not alone in that session, we had three incidents in fifteen minutes as most had reached the limit of their patience. Tired, hot, and with very little sleep, little tempers frayed then broke. We also had many in tears on that last day.

But it was so much fun! Even for this oldie!