Not sure where to begin with this, but it is all I can think about and have no idea what to do.
DS is 6, one of the younger ones in the class but also one of the biggest. We have had periods on-and-off since reception where he would cry going into school - has been ok so far in year 2, but this past week has been crying pretty much every day. Teachers have always said he gets on fine with the other kids, and isn't alone during playtime, but he's not particularly sporty so doesn't join in football, but plays games like 'tig', etc. It's fair to say that he has never really bonded with any of the other children, although we have had friends to tea. Last week he went to a friend's house and cried hysterically and had to be collected early.
He told me this week that it's too long to wait to be grown up so he might kill himself with a gun or find something poisonous so he doesn't have to go to school. Obviously this sent me into a spin of anxiety.
And now I'm worrying about the after-school club, and am starting to wonder whether he's getting bullied. He says the other kids call him weird, and there was an incident on Friday that really upset him, where he was accused of doing something 'weird' no-one believed him. I have no way of knowing whether he did the weird thing or not, but am now worried that other kids don't like him and this is why he's particularly unhappy at the moment.
I usually try to not give too much credence to his moans about school as the teachers say he's perfectly happy once he's there and at the end of each day he usually says it's fine. I have asked him if he wants to look for another school, and of course he says no.
He is quite a shy child, and a bit sensitive, but his shyness is slowly improving all the time and anyway he now knows all the children/parents and isn't shy around them any more - although he still would be with new people.
It's a lovely school with nice teachers. He is clever and learns easily, but I don't think he's bored. In fact, this might the first time he's feeling really stretched at school.
I don't know how to help him. He seems to want to spend all his time with me, and has always been a bit of a mummy's boy. He loves his daddy but at times he kind of shuts him out, not answering his questions, etc. He's doing this a lot lately.
So he seems to be craving more attention from me. I currently work 3 days so I pick him up from school 2 days per week and spend pretty much the whole weeekend with him. On a work-day I'm home by 6, so I do see him and have quality time before bed. I could rearrange my work so that I pick him up every day - this would be quite a bit harder for me but of course I'd do it if I thought it would solve the problem. The question is, would it solve the problem? He is craving more time with me - if I give it to him, might I be making the problem worse as he'll become even more attached.
Sorry to ramble on. I usually trust my instincts but I am really lost here - I genuinely don't know what I should do.
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Join the discussion on our Education forum.
Education
DS in year 2 says he hates school, has no real friends and can't wait to be grown up (or dead) so he doesn't have to go. I am in bits trying to work this out. Please help (long, sorry)
28 replies
misselizabethbennet · 06/10/2008 13:33
OP posts:
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.