In a weird twist on the standard I have noticed that, since my fae started schoo,l I have started to dread weekends. I am wondering if I am the only fae parent out there who finds this?
My daughter loves her school; she loves being challenged both mentally and physically; and her school caters to her needs wonderfully. This unfortunately means that come the weekend she gets very disappointed that she is not going. Then we have to brave all five stages of grief over the 48 hour period before Monday rolls around again.
- Denial – she will point blank refuse to admit she is not going to school. This takes the form of moving the day marker on the calender to ‘Monday’ repeatedly and pointing at it; putting her school uniform on; and all out refusing to hear anything that doesn’t fit with her model of the world.
- Anger – this stage lasts the longest and is normally the most draining. She will scream, rage and throw things. She will also refuse to do anything you ask. Everything is ‘yucky’ and I mean everything: her hair; clothes; food; her favorite TV shows or toys… all is ‘yucky’. She will just scream and throw herself on the floor. The only winning strategy is to walk away. Have you ever walked away from your own child when they are obviously in distress? Can you tell me how you managed it because I can’t do it.
- Bargaining – offers of hugs, sweets, anything will be made to coerce you to take her where she wants to go. She will repeatedly ask to see if she has been successful. It’s heartbreaking and there is nothing you can do to make this better.
- Depression – cuddles any one? Shame this is accompanied by a complete lack of appetite and disrupted sleep..
- Acceptance – at this point we may be able to successfully undertake a family outing that is actually enjoyable. Possibly. Sometimes it works, sometimes it falls flat on its face.
So by the time Sunday night comes round we are all looking forward to a break that comes with Monday.
And to think there was a time I used to look forward to the weekend..
Raising the Modern Fae 