How would you handle this situation?

[firsttimemum99x]

AIBU to think going through the teacher may be the best course of action?

My DS is in Reception. He had his leg amputated when he was a toddler and has always been a very happy, confident boy.

He takes his prosthetic leg off sometimes during school when he’s in pain or hot days like today - just to have a little break.

My little boy has come home very upset as another little girl in his class starting pointing at his stump today and began laughing and making sick noises - when he got upset and asked her to stop, she laughed and continued and also told another girl to join in (which she did).

Now, I speak to this girls mom a fair bit - lovely lady. She’s told me previously that her daughter has asked questions about my son’s stump and the mom told me she’s answered all her questions and told her how we should always treat people nicely etc (this was a couple of weeks ago). So this little girl does know it’s wrong.

This situation has really upset my little boy and now he’s crying telling me he wants to be ‘normal’ 💔

I’m not sure how to navigate this - shall I speak to the mom since we’ve had previously conversations? I’m inclined to go directly to the teacher as it happened during school and I think it would be beneficial for the teacher to tell her it’s wrong also?

I’m a bit of an anxious person and just unsure what my next move will be tomorrow but I definitely need something to be said as I will not have my little boy in this state again.

Thank you x

Definitely go through the teacher as it happened at school and ask how they plan to handle it.

Definitely speak to the teacher not the parent.

Hope your little boy is ok and that they sensitively deal with this .

Go directly to teacher.

It's sad your son is learning this hard lesson so young but people are just horrible sometimes...

And someone with a sibling who had a similar but different thing.... One thing I think my mum did which was helpful is prr-prepared phrases/comebacks.
So when you are caught off guard by a mean comment you have an automatic repsonse... you obviously decide what those are and practice them with him.

Yes I did think so - just never really been in a position like this before so it’s easy to second guess yourself. Thank you!

Yep definitely talk to the teacher

@ZImonoOh he can definitely stick up for himself normally, he’s usually very witty 😆 but I think this situation just caught him off guard a bit! He was actually in quite a bit of pain at the time too bless him hence why he had his leg off

Definitely speak to the teacher.

I agree definitely speak to the teacher, it’s something that actually at this age might be able to be nipped in the bud. If this was happening in Year 10 I’d be less hopeful that anything would change but at age 4/5, it’s not too late.

Oh your poor little lad! What a horrible experience that must have been for him. I've never understood how children can be so cruel, but at times like this I could happily strangle the little blighters! Hope the school handle this appropriately OP.

Absolutely talk to the teacher. They will normalise him having a prosthetic and talk to the children about it at an age appropriate level. I imagine it will then become the norm that X sometimes needs to take his leg off because it is hot in the same way they remove a jumper because it is hot. Usually young children are great at accepting differences amongst their peers and become very protective over them.

This girl is a bully. Speak to the teacher and ask how they will deal with it. Don’t be afraid to escalate to the head/governors.