Every Saturday I bring you a parenting mistake my husband and I have made. Please have a laugh or cry at our expense — we really are good parents, I swear.
This is a mistake I have yet to remedy, which is pathetic because I made it months ago. It started with a good decision. There are two classrooms at my daughter’s daycare for two-year-olds. She was in a classroom with a “difficult” little boy. Everytime I was in the room, the teacher had the boy in time-out. It was a very tense atmosphere, and not one I wanted for my daughter.
I liked the teacher. She’s sweet and young, but stressed and had developed a bad dynamic with this particular boy. On one occassion I actually saw her grab him from the corner of my eye. I didn’t see what led up to it, perhaps she was blocking him from hurting another child, but the tone and intensity were all wrong.
So, after my husband and I had some discussion, I spoke with the assistant director of the center and asked for Nora to be moved to the other classroom. I explained my concerns about the amount of attention focused on one child.
Here comes the mistake. The evening before, I’d had a very friendly conversation with this teacher. And the very next morning I asked for my daughter to be moved to another class. It was two faced. When I saw her again I could see that she was hurt and a bit confused. I should have had a small private discussion with her about my reasons, without laying any blame at her feet. I didn’t. I still could, but I haven’t.