Here's an
interesting anecdote. Last week I told one of Sam's afternoon daycare teachers that we were moving to the Triangle area and thus taking Sam out of daycare later this summer. In the course of the conversation I said something like, "He loves it so much here. I hope he'll adjust well to a new place." I mean, he does seem happy there, but I was really just being polite. Like, I'm pretty sure there are other daycares in other towns where the toddlers are perfectly happy.
Anyway, her reply? Not exactly what I expected. I expected, "Oh Sam will be fine. He's such a happy, well-adjusted boy."
What I got: "I think Sam will be fine now. He used to be a mess, but he's really grown into himself the last couple of months."
Really? A "mess?" Really? And I'm just hearing about this now? So, let's see, from his first day of daycare (Sept. 1) until, say, APRIL, you thought he was a "mess?" But you're just bringing it up now? And what do you even mean by a "mess?" YOU'RE THE MESS!
That's what I should have said to her. Instead, I just said, "OK, thanks, see you tomorrow!"
Stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen, to see if this story replays itself over the course of Sam's life. Will he continue to prove himself a "mess?" Will I get randomly negative but unhelpful feedback from future teachers about his behavior? Will I constantly fail to assert myself on his behalf?
Probably.
