Thursday 22 January 2009

A Room Of Teeny Weeny Chairs

I had taken the day off for the 2 year olds hospital appointment. After our trip I deposited him with the OAP childminders.

I had 4 hours to myself. Did I go and treat myself? Pamper myself? Go shopping? Just sit and stare into space knowing that I had 4 hours to myself? Eat something without having to part with half of it to stop the whining?

Nope, I went to help at the 4 year old's school.

For weeks she nagged ... and nagged ... and nagged "Everybody elses parents [in the whole wide world and universe] go into school to help".

I had to explain that I work whilst she's at school and only if I were to take holiday would I be able to help. That was my first mistake. My second was taking pity on her. She's been very clingy of late when I drop her at school and I felt sorry for her. So I arranged with her teacher to go in for the afternoon.

We had a discussion on the way to school in the morning about us being 'sensible' at school. She couldn't cling to me like a leech, show me her bottom or lick my face like she does at home. Similarly I couldn't fart the theme tune to Peppa Pig*, lick her face or dance like Baloo. We made a deal.

I arrived just as they were finishing lunchtime play. The children came in and sat on the carpet. The 4 year old walked in, looked at me, walked past me and then blanked me. She was perhaps taking our deal too seriously. I can't remember a clause in the deal that said 'pretend you're an orphan'.

When the teacher arrived she sat on a little persons chair and introduced me to the class. Three of the children (who have been for a fishfinger tea at our house) chortled at having to call me by my 'Mrs' name. They were probably having a flashback to my Baloo dancing. The 4 year old shuffled closer to my legs which were almost under my chin. I too was sat on a very small persons chair.

I have always liked the 4 year olds teacher. She is 'firm but fair'. The sort of woman you think is lovely but you wouldn't want to cross. I was in awe of her ability to work with one child at a table and see five children at different points of the classroom misbehaving. Without missing a beat she shot them a look which made them stop dead in their tracks. Genius.

I have made a mental note; At next parents evening ask teacher for tips on how to perfect the 'stop them dead' glare. I wouldn't need to write to Supernanny if I could do that.

I helped some children with numeracy. At any one time I had a maximum of four children in my group. Each one had a different agenda. The child who wanted to be out in the playground, the child who wanted to draw cyclopses instead of cars, the child eager to please and the child who completed the task before I'd even told them what to do. It was hard work but we got there in the end.

After playtime the children sat on the carpet for some religious education whilst I helped to tidy the classroom. At story time I returned to my teeny weeny chair and watched the children sit silently listening to 'Mog's Christmas', a month late.

Then we said the going home prayer. Setting a good example I clasped my hands together, bowed my head and listened (as all good athiests do at times like this).

As the children mumbled their prayer I heard the teacher in a cross voice say to the child to my right;

"John you should be talking to God, not Elizabeth**"

* I really didn't do this, but wish I could. At the point of reading 'theme tune to Peppa Pig' I imagine you were working out how many farts and of what length it would take to accomplish.

** Names have been changed to protect the not so innocent

13 comments:

Robert said...

I liked that. V amusing. I liked your angle. My kids' school/nursery school doesn't have any parents helping. Or invited to help. Is your kid's school the norm? or progressive? or weird?

Corey Schwartz said...

Hilarious, as always.

Have you ever thought of writing a picture book? You'd be brilliant at it :)

BookChook said...

I don't actually know Peppa Pig. At this point, I'm not sure I want to. Perhaps flatulence is part of the whole Peppa deal, and there is already enough hot air in our house.

I used to sit on the teeny tiny chairs. It's important not to wear teeny tiny skirts or you can scar children for life. And with the stare? I think you need to remain slightly aloof, even a little mean. Definitely no Baloo.

Lucy Filet said...

My 4 year old also licks me...it's weird.

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

Robert - I don't know if it's the norm but they always need an extra set of hands. I think it's probably a lack of teaching assistants.

Corey - No I haven't, I wouldn't know where to start. I could call it 'Licking Mummy'

Book Chook - Certainly no small skirts!

Kylie - Maybe it's something they teach them at school ...secretly

Elsie Button said...

oh damn i was very excited for a minute about you farting peppa pig tune! Very funny post! i can so relate to your school experiences - little chairs, kids with different agendas - god it's hard work!

Anonymous said...

Ha!

I have to say I really enjoy being at the school. You hear so many interesting things...

Anonymous said...

Loved it! You have a great way of putting things - very very funny

Anonymous said...

Very brave! I helped at Amy's school for a while but always came home with a banging head!

CJ xx

Old Knudsen said...

By calling yerself an athiest you have just validated God's existence, he'll be so happy.
When they become teens they will ignore you because you then think doing the Baloo dance in public is funny. Its all natures plan to get them to move out.

Jo Beaufoix said...

That was fab. I helped in a year fur class the other day. Oh my Bob. I'm used to Secondary as that's where I worked, but Primary is just an onslaught of 'help please Miss'. Arghhhhh.

I love that the four year old played orphan Annie, and mine is obsessed with farting and pretty much all bodily emissions. Just now she came in and jumped up and down so I would listen to her tummy. She's just consumed a milkshake and it sounds seriously full and very sloshy. Hee hee. Of course she'll probably puke now.

Anonymous said...

Please make sure you post a How to Video on youtube when you get the lowdown on the stop 'em dead glare...

Coding Mamma (Tasha) said...

I love how she took it so seriously she ignored you. Children can be so literal.