Monday 20 August 2012

Monday, Monday...

As I write this both children are sitting just outside the back door quietly playing with a snail... yes, they are incredibly fascinated by how this small creature moves. As I heard TJ point out, "Its a slug with its own house." "You mean a caravan, " Lea knowledgably replied, "Because it takes it house with it." Obviously, the kids do occasionally listen to things we tell them.

But what is most amazing is that, despite all the expensive toys, computer games, TV, etc in their possession, they have actually been watching and dicussing this small creature for nearly an hour now - no fighting, screaming or any of the things that occur when toys are in use, just genuine interest. Even the dog is sitting next to them, it makes quite an idyllic picture....

The children have just rushed in to show me the snail and they have found him a friend... a bloody huge garden spider!  Which has also come into the house with them... I think I may have screamed like a girl... Lea now has a string of questions... "How do spiders make webs? Will it bite? Are all spiders poisonous?" Then the most miraculous thing happened... Lea turned to TJ and said, "We should go to the library and get a book about spiders." I  nearly fainted, the combination of huge spider and a sudden quest for learning are a bit too much.

Getting Lea to sit and read can be a nightmare - usually it involves much cajoling, promises of Batman on TV and huge amounts of praise. We do worry that she might be dyslexic, but a lot of it comes from poor self esteem. I would imagine that any child rejected by their birth family and mal treated and then passed through the foster system would have low self worth and the battle against that is long and hard. Luckily they are in a school who get how hard it is for kids from their kind of background. At our last teacher/parent meeting the term 'attachment disorder' was actually used... My jaw hit the ground to hear a member of staff acknowledge what we have been saying for months and to learn that they had also been researching the subject and sharing that with their peers.  Anyone who doubts the conviction of today's teachers just needs to pop into our school. It may not be outstanding academically but in terms of nurture and care its hits exactly the right spot.

I have just popped my head out the back door to see who wanted an ice lolly - the spider and the snail went flying into the garden as the interest in them was replaced by the need to consume iced treats. Mind you I imagine both the snail and the spider are grateful for the rest....

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