Parent-Teacher Interviews 2009 (Part 1/3)

I was cordially invited to Foal’s Year 1 'Parent-Teacher thing' on Tuesday and because I am a good, caring mum I decided to accept. Actually, I accept every single term that I am invited. But that’s beside the point.

I was full of doubts though, especially with Foal. He’s normally a well-behaved student at school, but then again, aren’t they all? It’s only at home they show their monster side!

Last Thursday night, I wanted to pack my bags and leave home. It started at 6:30 in the morning, with “The 3” acting like feral children. It’s happened to us a few times along the Parenthood Path, so you’d think I’d know better by now. But I honestly thought they had outgrown that phase. Thursday ended with “The 3” in bed by 7:30 pm and me still not liking them.

Needless to say, I am still here. One day they will leave home.

Back to Foal’s P/T thing. My doubts were more of how I should behave.

Should I try, desperately, to keep a straight face whilst his (clearly misguided) teacher blatantly lies to my face about the perfect child we have produced? Or should I just laugh insanely until the school finally calls the people who have the power over straight jackets and padded rooms?

I have to admit that I would love the second option – but that would only help me for a few hours. And so, I chose to do the first.

It turns out that he’s always well behaved, obedient, helpful and, believe it or not, actually quite clever. When I asked her if she was sure we were talking about my Foal, she did look at me funny. My thinking was: maybe there is more than one in the class? The answer to that is (sadly for me) no. In fact he's the only one with that name but now his teacher thinks I don’t know my child.