Seth came home sad because the teacher told him if he kept singing, he was going to get a time-out. A time-out means you have to go to your desk and put your head down.
Seth sings all the time. A sweet little soprano hum, underneath whatever he is working on at the time. If he's drawing, if he's writing, if he's building with Legos, the song is always there.
But at school, Seth's song can be distracting to other students.
"I can't help it Mommy. I forget," he said.
He hung his head, furrowed his brow.
Part of me wanted to yank him out immediately, put him in a school for the arts where his song would be celebrated! He's such a good kid! He's never had a time-out in his life!
But Seth has a wonderful teacher, and he can't disrupt the other students, and he did decide to come here and live in this world where accommodations for others must be made.
"So here's the deal Seth. If you forget, and if you get a time-out, you will never be in trouble at home. You go to your desk, put your head down, do a little meditation, and tell yourself over and over, I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. Okay?"
"Can I meditate about Legos?"
"Absolutely. Whatever brings you joy."
"Okay Mommy."
"You're the best boy," I said.
"You're the best mom," he said.
Well then, I guess that's that.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
Sweet thing. He can come sing at our house anytime.
Just the beginning.
I would have that same thought, pull him out of that school immediately! LOL. I like your solution, though. Well of course he forgets, he has a joyful soul.
I don't think there are any schools that accommodate kids who march to the tune of their own drummers.
I love your approach! I love that you are teaching Seth he has to abide by the rules but that doing so doesn't make him a bad person and he's not in trouble.
You ARE the best mom! xo
Such a good response, Michelle. Love it!
One day he'll get a record deal and everyone will want to hear him sing!
But it does seem to me that there has to be a much better way of solving this issue than embarrassing him in front of the whole class by giving him a time out. Is there a picture that he can have sitting on his desk to remind him to pay attention to his singing? Or a subtle signal that the teacher can give him to remind him that only Seth knows?
Maybe you can discuss possibilities with the teacher. If there is a special ed teacher in the building, she will have a multitude of ideas.
You are, indeed, the best mom.
Oh sweet boy. Love how you provided for his context and for his heart. I agree with Anne, the teacher shouldn't be treating this as a behavior issue.
Lovely. You ARE the best mom.
Definitely!
Love that he talks to you about this stuff.
Love that you listen.
Love that you both talk about it and come up with a solution.
Ahh, conscious parenting. It rocks!
You are both right.
I remember Miss M saying something about inside voice - any good for your Seth? Honestly, if that's the worst thing he does, he truly is the best!
You ARE the best mom.
Post a Comment