Ding dong...

Henry's new teacher is gone!!!

I haven't posted anything about this because we've all been holding our breaths that this would be the outcome. The new school year began almost 3 weeks ago and with it, a new teacher. The same friends were in there so we didn't think it would be a big deal to change, but boy were we wrong. There's only 5 classes at Henry's school. It's a pretty small program and most of the teachers have been there for years and in some cases, decades. It's a very laid back environment --the teachers are nurturing and the play is led by the children. Well, they hired this woman who'd been with a commercial child-care franchise for the last 12 years and she did not fit in AT ALL (not nurturing, very strict, made them sit and listen to her 50 min story-tapes, very directive, etc.). The kids HATED her. Henry's reaction to her was about the same as when I tried to get him to sit on Santa's lap last year. And he was not the only one. The kids went from happy, care-free, easily dropped off angels, to crying messes, begging for their mothers.

Drop off for the last 7 months has been Henry playing happily, and I say, "Can I have a kiss goodbye?" and he smacks me on the mouth and waves and is like bah-bye--barely looking at me. Pick up was usually coercing him out of there b/c he did not want to leave. So, we knew something was up when the whole room would be in tears and Henry would not let go of my shirt. On the way to school he'd say, "No school mama! I don't like school! Teacher mad at friends!" It was devastating. He LOVED school before. Would practically beat me to the car to go to school. Would get excited when we pulled up.

Obviously we all complained. It was a very exhausting few weeks. Lot's of emails and conversations with the Director and other parents. I did not feel good leaving him there AT ALL (but I had to go to work). I'd take him at 10, dad there at 11:30 till 12:15 and then he'd nap and be picked up at 4, so it's not like he was there a long time, and still, I felt awful. When his dad was there at lunch he'd beg him to take him home. Ugh. It was horrible. We'd both leave in tears. And then yesterday, we got the magic news. She's gone. Gone gone gone. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Now it will take some time for Henry and the others to rebuild their trust and good feelings about school, but hopefully the worst is behind us.