----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 12:00
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] My book
Pinky, can you hear the sound of many hands
clapping? There are two here from me.
Love,
Aviva
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:02 AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] My book
Hi Marilyn
my youngest is in the local school, he did have
some early HS and a small Steiner school which started with just a few
days a week - while some things are better these days, like birthing it
seems incredible that nobody has worked it out - that kids behave as well as
they are treated (just like us). I get so sick of hearing about
yard duty and lines for trivial stuff like not having my hat on because some
girl threw it over the fence - it was just a game! Last week
I went to teacher asking 'what the helll is a gold
license?" obviously worth TWO yard duties in the same lunch break (I
had been to doctors, a funeral and an exhibition opening with my older
kids that day and worked til 2am to catch up but didnt know about 'gold
license') -I found it in the recycling bin at home - "tidy" (Obsessive)
hubby had thrown the little piece of paper in the bin -kid had placed it
beside his shoes so he wouldnt forget it in the morning. Today we are having
an "RDO" and doing schoolwork at home (catching up on homework to avoid lines
which a) dont teach anything esp enthusiasm for homework! b) interfere with
social skills -playing and being part of the group at playtime which is vital
when a kid has other difficulties and c) mean the kid doesnt get
necessary exercise to relieve the "ants" to make sitting in classroom
for next part of day practical d) simply adds to the stress of spending
most of the day doing something that is very difficult for him then coming
home and having to do more of same ) today he was complaining that
"the remedial teacher yells when I yawn or sniff and its all dripping in the
back of my throat. I have to sniff" -in spite of claratyne and diet
restrictions he has allergies and hayfever at present which
accounts for yawning and sniffing -as well as the light sensitivity which
affects visual perception and an auditory processing difficulty which
means he cant block out extra noise and differentiate which is the voice to
listen to. It is probably very like being spoken at in both ears
simultaneously while the teacher is trying to give instructions - ever tried
this as an exercise? - (we did it at the toddler workshop just to show
how littlies may be affected by places like shopping centres etc -it
drives you bonkers) - yes I have bruises to show too - I so
strongly believe that the skills we learn from participating in birth keep on
helping us to question/ assert (the 'authorities' are not all knowing) and the
bonding gives us and our kids a head start in empathy. We need this
confidence and inner knowing to take us along the mother journey.
Wherever we birth or school, ultimately it is our
relationship with the kids that colours their ability to be who they are.
Circumstances vary so much for each of us and at different times - with a sick
husband I neither have the energy to fight the system some days (and wonder if
it will make a difference anyway), nor the envirionment I would like and
not working isnt an option either for the $$ or for being me , so I try to
work within these confines the best I can and school is part of the equation
(most days). Funnily, I used to get flack because my kids werent in school
- now I sometimes get flack because this child is at school - a mothers
place is often 'in the wrong' . If we had been driving aeroplanes for
twenty odd years, people would trust that we might have developed some skills
but as a mother - no such acknowledgment!
Pinky