The last weekend was packed with activities, the key highlight (at least to me) was the half-yearly Meet-The-Parents session at Summer’s school.
We are usually quite chill about such sessions, having attended more than 4 or 5 before. Our relaxed disposition is anchored on 2 thoughts:
1. Our expectations are not high, we don’t expect the teachers to transform Summer into a child prodigy.
2. I don’t think we will ever pull her out from the school, unless something drastic like fighting or bullying occurs.
3. We understand that teachers have tougher jobs than most of us.
So all in all, our sessions with the school are more of being notified of how Summer is progressing rather than questioning the teachers on how they can do better for my kid. The teachers must love us for that.
Breakfast place before going to school
Anyhow some takeaways from the session, which was attended by Mama Toh 90% of the time because I was chasing Summer and Zavier for almost the whole full hour:
1. The only thing below average on her report card (yes this is a real thing for 4 year olds) is her inability to ask questions/talk at appropriate times. This came as no surprise to me but I think Mama Toh was slightly affected by the fact that her perfect daughter had a flaw in her report card. The teacher said she could rarely finish a book without Summer asking questions every sentence. Yup, sounds like my girl there.
Here's the inquisitive explorer
2. Unhappy kids are real. Everyone thinks that kids are always happy and loved, but even in a noisy bustling school like Summer’s, unhappy kids exist. Her teacher was just sharing with us that she can tell that Summer is a happy kid and is loved at home because she always draws happy pictures and chooses bright colours, whilst there are other kids who only draw sad/angry faces and only color in black. It’s sad guys, please please don’t let that happen to your kids.
From this photo I am very afraid Zavier will grow up drawing sad faces crying HELP ME
3. Zavier’s future teacher has a fitness regime ready for her already. When we first brought Zavier to the school, one of the teachers who will be in-charged of the youngest playgroup kids cooed over him and asked when he is joining (tentatively September). I literally saw her coo slowly transform into a fearful smile when she saw how I had to run after Zavier the whole hour there. Is this boy permanently on caffeine? Good luck to the teacher!
Not stopping even at 9.30pm