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school conference
May. 23rd, 2006 11:30 amI can't believe it's only 11:30; I feel like I've gotten so much done today. These are the benefits of clearing out items that have been haunting the office for weeks. And having no meetings or appointments for a whole 2 hours in a row! Of course, there is a new list of haunts to tackle now.
But first...
We met with Miss Rosa yesterday for Casper's first official school conference. It was weird, because Rose isn't very articulate in English, and clearly this sort of formal sit-down makes her uncomfortable. I would love to be able to talk about Casper and child development and what she's like with someone who is both her caregiver and is knowledgeable about the field and able to express herself clearly, but so far, we haven't had that combination. So, a little frustrating for me.
What Rosa had to say about Casper is sort of the same thing we've heard from every caregiver about her - she's an easy child to take care of. Rosa framed it as, "She's quiet, she's respectful, she's careful." I guess this is who she is, when she's out in the world. It's funny how different my own picture of her is. Quiet, this bossy child who will wag her finger at me after I scold her saying, "Don't do that to me again!"? Careful, the girl who kicked her mother on Sunday, and throws things? I am glad, in a way, that she can sometimes be a normal hellion two year old at home, since she clearly doesn't feel free to be that way in public. And I'm kind of sad that she's so good and restrained in public, at such a young age. I feel as though I was a very socially constrained child, and it was a hindrance to me and my development. I am sure that someone's mother is going, "I wish my child was getting reports that she is good and quiet and respectful, instead of the report that she bit Johnny, again, and was too loud and pushy, and rips books," but in my family we could stand a little more loud and pushy. Especially at 2, so it's not repressed and then bursts out at less opportune times, like 14, or 33.
Some (much?) of it is shyness, which Casper comes by honestly, probaby both genetically and by observation of her parents. She gets shy when asked direct questions by Miss Rosa and Miss Jenny, and is slow to answer (they think she's not a talker. Not a talker!!!). She won't take her turn to sing at circle time, although heaven knows she learns all the songs and was singing along like an opera diva with mr. flea in the bath last night. But she's been in this class nearly 6 months now; how long can it take for her to loosen up? (Well, judging by me, she may never, so there's that. I can be shy with people I've associated with daily for years.)
My worries for her going forward are how this shyness will play out as she transitions to her new classroom next month (in 2 weeks, actually), and how the armadillo's birth will change her feeling of comfort within the family. I want her to be bold and at home in the world, not just in the embrance of her family. And I don't want the new baby to make her feel any less warmly embraced. But who she is is who she is; I don't know that I can do much to shape her.
But first...
We met with Miss Rosa yesterday for Casper's first official school conference. It was weird, because Rose isn't very articulate in English, and clearly this sort of formal sit-down makes her uncomfortable. I would love to be able to talk about Casper and child development and what she's like with someone who is both her caregiver and is knowledgeable about the field and able to express herself clearly, but so far, we haven't had that combination. So, a little frustrating for me.
What Rosa had to say about Casper is sort of the same thing we've heard from every caregiver about her - she's an easy child to take care of. Rosa framed it as, "She's quiet, she's respectful, she's careful." I guess this is who she is, when she's out in the world. It's funny how different my own picture of her is. Quiet, this bossy child who will wag her finger at me after I scold her saying, "Don't do that to me again!"? Careful, the girl who kicked her mother on Sunday, and throws things? I am glad, in a way, that she can sometimes be a normal hellion two year old at home, since she clearly doesn't feel free to be that way in public. And I'm kind of sad that she's so good and restrained in public, at such a young age. I feel as though I was a very socially constrained child, and it was a hindrance to me and my development. I am sure that someone's mother is going, "I wish my child was getting reports that she is good and quiet and respectful, instead of the report that she bit Johnny, again, and was too loud and pushy, and rips books," but in my family we could stand a little more loud and pushy. Especially at 2, so it's not repressed and then bursts out at less opportune times, like 14, or 33.
Some (much?) of it is shyness, which Casper comes by honestly, probaby both genetically and by observation of her parents. She gets shy when asked direct questions by Miss Rosa and Miss Jenny, and is slow to answer (they think she's not a talker. Not a talker!!!). She won't take her turn to sing at circle time, although heaven knows she learns all the songs and was singing along like an opera diva with mr. flea in the bath last night. But she's been in this class nearly 6 months now; how long can it take for her to loosen up? (Well, judging by me, she may never, so there's that. I can be shy with people I've associated with daily for years.)
My worries for her going forward are how this shyness will play out as she transitions to her new classroom next month (in 2 weeks, actually), and how the armadillo's birth will change her feeling of comfort within the family. I want her to be bold and at home in the world, not just in the embrance of her family. And I don't want the new baby to make her feel any less warmly embraced. But who she is is who she is; I don't know that I can do much to shape her.