exhaling...with reservation

Week three of school was greeted and entered into with baited breath. I am happy to report that things are settling - he is settling. We have had no tears at all this week.


He murmured one weak protest late Sunday night, but I was able to smother the worries before they engulfed into a raging inferno.


Monday morning: we walked to school without the chase shenanigans of previous weeks, and I managed to calmly have him seated, crossed-legged on the carpet with the other kids, without getting out the straight jacket or tranquilisers; although it is possible the teacher was wearing shin guards, just in case.


Today was a definate win; the first time he admitted to having a "good day". I am quietly relieved, but am not yet willing to stay any longer in his classroom, than is minimally required - that means brisk drop off and pick up only. Perhaps in term two, when Missy Mopps is at Kindy four days a week, I will feel that things are calm enough for me to volunteer for his class reading.


Thanks to all who offered advice, reassurance that "it gets better" and personal anecdotes - they were all required. Apologies to all I neglected while my head quietly exploded last week, I will get back to you in the next day or so.

Separation Anxiety

Week two of school has gotten off to a rough start. I feel utterly exhausted by yesterday's events. The two days off has proved to be a regressive exercise, no more.

The kids have school swimming lessons this week. I volunteered to help dress the kids afterward. I thought this would help Mister, but it made everything worse. He ran away from me again as we walked to school, and it took me 10 minutes to catch him and drag him back again - so we were late.

Mister refused to go in the pool, and instead, spent the hour pleading for me not to leave. It was a nightmare. When it finally came time to say Goodbye, he howled and screamed. It took two teachers to prise him off of me, so I could leave. Missy Mopps was so upset by the commotion that she was foiling my attempts to leave by attempting to drag me back in to soothe Mister.

The lonely walk back to the car was accompanied my much sobbing and pain.

The school rang me later to say he settled well after I left - of course - but suggested I NOT attend swimming anymore - pretty humiliating. They felt my presence was making the inevitable separation, worse. It is, I know. I just cried all day long.

When I picked him up yesterday, he appeared quite happy. After speaking with the principal over the weekend, the school put on a lunchtime activity which was attended by a couple of other kids too -that helped.

Upon our return home, Mister started up again. He did not want to go to school. The pleading and the tears continued until 9pm last night, when he fell asleep after crying uncontrollably.

The anxiety I am feeling about today is extreme right now. I feel physically sick, highly stressed and exhausted. The whole swimming thing, which takes place at 9am, is making matters worse.

I will be taking him - it is the only way for him to get used to school. I have tried to focus on the positives; tried to explain every angle, but I just can't seem to console my boy and wonder if and when this behaviour is ever going to end....and how.