Withdrawal from school
A tough decision, and the withdrawal letter was handed in on the 28th February, Wednesday. Part of me felt relieved, whilst the other part, sad, and I nearly teared when I spoke to the admin and later Lia's form teacher. Lia had wanted to go back to her classroom after I handed the letter to the admin. She even said, "Talia go school, mommy go work..." and wanted to turn and walk to her class. But it was nap time and I was afraid of disturbing the children. While contemplating to leave, Lia's form teacher saw us. She was happy to see Lia and warmly welcomed us into the classroom. We went in, sat down on the floor and started chatting. One of the kids (the girl whom bit) woke up; Lia wanted me to carry her over and following that, she went and sat on her friend's mattress, proceeded to communicate with her, though in silence, and I can see that she'd wanted to hold her friend's hands and fiddled a little with her friend's clothes. Lia clearly missed school and her friends. *Sign. My baby's first school, my baby's first batch of friends. She would be leaving them on the last day of March.
The main reason I told her school, was health. Frequent bouts of flu virus, persistent phlegmy coughs, Lia has been falling sick since the day she entered day care. It is inevitable I know, but when I hear my baby coughing through the night, it just breaks my heart totally. Dishearten, sad, and guilty, I remembered Lia's PD saying that all these sickness are self-inflicted. They are just not ready for day care at this tender age.
Our other reasons:
1) The recent outbreak of HFMD. We question their hygiene, for the centre is non air-conditioned and their classrooms are big and airy too. Doesn't these factors cut down the risks as compared to air-conditioned centres?
2) Potty training. James is greatly affected by this too. Because of redness at her diaper area again, I'd kept Lia at home during the HFMD outbreak. During this time, I had trained her to go diaperless during the day, except nap time that is. Her pull-up pants remained dry during our CNY house visiting, and she would use the toilets or kiddy potty at our relatives' house. But when I send her back (in pull-up pants) on the fifth day of CNY, she did her business (big and small) in diapers again all day. I've told her form teacher on the morning I brought her in, and she had failed to carry out my requests of bringing Lia to the toilet. She did not convey the message to her assistant teacher as well for when I asked the assistant teacher at the end of the day, she with a surprised tone, said no when I asked if Lia had pee in the toilet. My heart sank. Twice in a roll that very night and once on the next morning, Lia pee-ed without informing us. Our hearts sank further. James got angry for he'd been proud of our little girl's achievement and told me to stop Lia from attending school. I couldn't agree more.
3) Teachers. I felt that the teachers have slacken. Lia pinched her fingers twice, was bitten on her arm and for the last time, her teachers doesn't even know it happened! I am okay with the bites and all and I understand that I have to look at each suitation differently. But the teachers should at least know what's happening in class right?! From what I know, fingers being pinched by doors is a common thing in school and I am disappointed that there wasn't any actions taken. Safety gadgets are readily available in the market, why don't we see them being used in school? Potty training is next, need I say more? It may be the increase in class size that brought upon this and the attention on my baby was never the same as before.
4) School's facilities. They said that the gym room is undergoing renovations, yes right, since last October till goodness knows when. Though there are daily phonic lessons, and computer lessons conducted once a week, we are missing out on the free yoga for kids, speech and drama too. There wasn't much outdoor play for I was told that they have stopped going to the playground because of mosquitoes. I see kiddy rides and little educational gardens at neighbouring childcare centers but none of this in my baby's school. :(
The main reason I told her school, was health. Frequent bouts of flu virus, persistent phlegmy coughs, Lia has been falling sick since the day she entered day care. It is inevitable I know, but when I hear my baby coughing through the night, it just breaks my heart totally. Dishearten, sad, and guilty, I remembered Lia's PD saying that all these sickness are self-inflicted. They are just not ready for day care at this tender age.
Our other reasons:
1) The recent outbreak of HFMD. We question their hygiene, for the centre is non air-conditioned and their classrooms are big and airy too. Doesn't these factors cut down the risks as compared to air-conditioned centres?
2) Potty training. James is greatly affected by this too. Because of redness at her diaper area again, I'd kept Lia at home during the HFMD outbreak. During this time, I had trained her to go diaperless during the day, except nap time that is. Her pull-up pants remained dry during our CNY house visiting, and she would use the toilets or kiddy potty at our relatives' house. But when I send her back (in pull-up pants) on the fifth day of CNY, she did her business (big and small) in diapers again all day. I've told her form teacher on the morning I brought her in, and she had failed to carry out my requests of bringing Lia to the toilet. She did not convey the message to her assistant teacher as well for when I asked the assistant teacher at the end of the day, she with a surprised tone, said no when I asked if Lia had pee in the toilet. My heart sank. Twice in a roll that very night and once on the next morning, Lia pee-ed without informing us. Our hearts sank further. James got angry for he'd been proud of our little girl's achievement and told me to stop Lia from attending school. I couldn't agree more.
3) Teachers. I felt that the teachers have slacken. Lia pinched her fingers twice, was bitten on her arm and for the last time, her teachers doesn't even know it happened! I am okay with the bites and all and I understand that I have to look at each suitation differently. But the teachers should at least know what's happening in class right?! From what I know, fingers being pinched by doors is a common thing in school and I am disappointed that there wasn't any actions taken. Safety gadgets are readily available in the market, why don't we see them being used in school? Potty training is next, need I say more? It may be the increase in class size that brought upon this and the attention on my baby was never the same as before.
4) School's facilities. They said that the gym room is undergoing renovations, yes right, since last October till goodness knows when. Though there are daily phonic lessons, and computer lessons conducted once a week, we are missing out on the free yoga for kids, speech and drama too. There wasn't much outdoor play for I was told that they have stopped going to the playground because of mosquitoes. I see kiddy rides and little educational gardens at neighbouring childcare centers but none of this in my baby's school. :(
the mommy blogged this at 12:09 AM
4 Comments:
Hope things get better after Lia stays home. It's a tough decision to make esp now that Lia is so comfortable going to school, enjoying her friends' company, the teachers and lesson.
In any case, your lil' one's health is most important, therefore by staying home to recuperate is really a good idea. Take care.
Hey Jean,
Thanks, I felt so much better after reading your comments. :)
I was feeling like a selfish mommy depriving my baby of her friends and of fun time in sch, but who can bear seeing their child getting all pale and sicky? So I guess I made the right choice after all.
i believe u are getting the discounted service from the school at a full price.
Do what you tink is best for Talia. our maternal instinct were seldom wrong.
Let her heal completely and hopefully u can find a better school for her at a later time. Take care!
Just to note...the teachers there are so diff from MMI Ethyl attends...teachers there encourage potty training and helped us a lot at the initial stage, and even till now.
Thanks Fannie, and yes, u r right; discounted services indeed.
Teachers played an important role and we were just not lucky to get good, on-the-ball teachers. :(
I am not considering full day childcare again, or at least for now... Lia will be attending nursery classes all the same next year but it'd be those 2/4 hours classes instead...
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