Proud Mama

[ciroccoj]

Took Justin to ballet this morning. Last week he was upset and said he didn't want to go back because he got in trouble with the teacher. Assuming that once again I had inflicted a 'challenging' child onto an unsuspecting teacher, I went to talk to her. She was surprised that Justin had been upset; it turned out that though he'd listened and behaved well most of the class, during Free Dance time he'd pretty much just run around until she'd taken away his dance scarf and made him sit near the wall.

Oh. See, having parented Daniel through Gym'n'Swim, karate, Beavers, JK, SK, and grade 1, I assumed my children would always be the ones who spent most of their time being reprimanded for not listening well or not working and playing well with others. But no. His teacher even remarked that he's normally very well behaved.

Huh.

So this week, Justin asked me to stay and watch him during his class. He and I had talked about how he could stay out of trouble, and how even if he did get in trouble, it wasn't the end of the world. But he still wanted me there as a sort of security blanket.

So the class started. And Justin was right into it. There were 8 little girls and one boy, and he was one of the best behaved ones there. Listening, doing what he was supposed to do, enthusiastically flapping his arms and jumping up and down and skipping and all that. The teacher reprimanded him maybe two or three times, and each time he immediately shaped up. This was in sharp contrast with most of the other kids, who daydreamed, or refused to participate in some parts, or didn't listen even after she repeatedly told them what they were supposed to do.

At the end, the teacher had them all bunched up in one corner of the room and told them that when she called their name they were supposed to dance across the room, bow or curtsey to her, then sit.

Well, it didn't go swimmingly for most of the class. Almost all of them just ran across the room, didn't dance at all, and sat down immediately. The ones that did dance, didn't curtsey, and the ones who curtseyed hadn't danced. Justin was the second last kid to go and he did it perfectly. The teacher just about glowed with relief - a sort of a "My GOD!! It CAN be done!!" on her face, and praised him extravagantly.

Wow. A child of mine, being a model student. I wouldn't have predicted that in a million years.

Comments

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

Oh, so sweet! Hooray for Justin.