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Another sock-related thread! Suggestions please

3 replies

motherofsnortpigs · 15/11/2010 11:40

DD1 (4yrs 10 months) has a few foibles that tally with ASD. Anyway, it came to a bit of a head yesterday when I realised how carefully I manage so many areas of her life. She had a dress rehearsal for her ballet show. I had carefully explained how she would have to have her hair done, that the dressing room would be crowded and a bit noisey, that she would have to wear the leotard they gave her - all good. I did not realise, however, that they would be asked to wear their ballet shoes without the socks. DD got all ready but left her socks on. It was pointed out to her several times backstage that the socks would have to go, but she insisted. We then went through into the auditorium and her group was called up to dance. Cue a 'helper' dashing on to the stage to remove the offending socks. Of course DD would not put her ballet shoes on without the socks, and then would not dance in bare feet, and she had a bit of a cry. She held the teacher's hand and watched the children dance the first time and then came to sit with me for the second run through.

I did get an apology from the helper, so that was nice, but now I don't know what to do and I feel bad that I didn't run to my DD's defence and fight her sock battle sooner (so I feel bad).

The easiest option is, of course, to not do the show next weekend, but she has been rehearsing all term and seemed to be looking forward to it. I have found some little tiny virtually invisible socks that she might wear, but they are not the ballet socks. I am able to go backstage with her next weekend again, but am aware that they really don't need a child having a massive tantrum in the wings when there must be about 100 children in this show. Should I phone the teacher? I so don't want to appear like an over-stressy mummy, but I do want to facilitate DD's participation.

Of course the irony is that practically the only time she will wear socks is to ballet.

O what to do? Advice and suggestions please.

TIA

OP posts:
daisysue2 · 15/11/2010 14:28

Just call the teacher and explain. They probably don't know what to do either. There is no way they would allow this little girl to be so upset by taking her socks off if they knew the problems it could cause her, or I am assuming this. These are tiny little girls no one minds.

From a mother who has watched with dread through many a show.

Claw3 · 15/11/2010 14:42

Could you explain to her as you did with everything else, perhaps she might be a bit more accepting if she knows in advance about the no socks?

motherofsnortpigs · 15/11/2010 16:52

thanks for your replies. The ballet teacher is quite scary, but I have phoned her and left a message. We have a lesson tomorrow, I so hope she is allowed to wear the socks. I have explained as clearly as I can to DD that socks are not part of the outfit, but she says that she can't wear the ballet shoes without socks. When I became a mother, I never thought socks would play such a key role in my life... sorry for this reply being all squished, on phone as DD's are having their daily dose of iplayer!

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