Tuesday 16 June 2009

One Day Soon

I'm feeling a little (make that a lot!) brain dead at the moment. Yesterday was an exhausting day, mentally. Not because it was a difficult day, far from it. My new little Prep student is a joy to spend time with. However, at different times during the day both his mother and I had moments of realisation. The task before each of us is huge.

I woke at 5.30am this morning (not unusual) and realised what I have taken on is s-o-o-o-o-o big. It's not just the physical support I will be required to provide but the educational support he will require looks a little overwhelming right now too. And then I remember that in reality, he's starting at the start and the rest of the class is half way into the year. We'll need to be sensitive to his need for down-time in the day. Something the rest of the Prep's had in Term 1 and don't require now. He might need a day off here and there to regroup and renew himself. The Prep's had a four-day week in Term 1, too.

What I know is that one day, this will be routine for all of us. For the student, for his Mum who will cover my day off and other times through the week and for me. One day I'll know his little signals and the subtle nuances of a look or his tone of voice. One day he'll be comfortable with me caring for him in a way that only Mum and Dad have done so far. One day his Mum will feel perfectly confident in spending a whole day away from school, and him.

I'm looking forward to that 'one day', but the journey between will be full of positive things too.

For right now, tomorrow, my little student is looking forward to a day at home to rest and I'm looking forward to a bit of mental space and a more normal-to-me looking day. You know, for as long as what I've known til now remains 'normal'!

3 comments:

Rel said...

Glad it went well! I'm sure he is in very good hands :)

Left-Handed Housewife said...

It's hard to remember that the journey's the thing, especially when you're at the beginning of it. But it sounds like you have the right perspective and attitude. Enjoy the trip!

frances

Tracy said...

I spoke to his Mum tonight after school and was able to encourage her that the teething problems at the start won't always be what marks his time at school. He's having tomorrow at home again too, I think.