Small Child was up and in my bed at 6.30 in some distress because the sun was shining and it's Sports Day.
He is always last. This is no exaggeration - his physical development is the bottom end of normal for his age, and it's more obvious because if he'd been born a week later he'd be in the school year below (in Scotland he'd be in the year below because they have different school years). I know as he gets older this will make less difference, but at 7 it makes a lot of difference. He's a string bean (don't know where he gets that from!) and can't control his legs.
It's probably not right to teach a child to run away from problems, but sod it. The occupational therapist says we chould be encouraging him to enjoy physical activity and increase his confidence by praising his physical achievements. I don't see how the ritualised humiliation of Sports Day (for that's what it is for kids like him) will help with that. Last year he burst into tears and I had to help him to finish the course. He was in Key Stage 1 then, so it was ok. Key Stage 2 is a different kettle of fish.
I've made his day by keeping him at home. I'm taking him to the local adventure playground instead - to go on the assault course - it's a brilliant one, through the trees and stuff. Then tomorrow, to show you don't run away from problems, we are going in to school to discuss what I've done and why. And also to tell his teacher he's lost his home learning book, which is something else he was crying about.
I know I can't do this every year, and I don't want to, but this year he is so fragile, not liking his class in school and so on, that this was a pressure too far.
