Update on kids

M. and T. received their Easter school reports. Progress for both, but nothing spectacular. T. is happy, social, not particularly concentrated or paying attention. Well, she’s only four after all. I am happy with her progress socially, it is indeed remarkable how much she has changed over the past year, from slightly obstinate and very bossy to much more attentive, also to her brothers, especially R. (she will of course duly tease, harass, pinch, and hit her elder brother..). I had expected much worse for M. given his recent obstinacy, but he is doing fine, apart from his atrocious handwriting and occasional lack of interest. Strange: he doesn’t copy words or sentences correctly, even when they are straight in front of him, but continues phonetic spelling. I don’t think he’s dyslectic or anything, as he is quite consistent in his phonetic spelling. I rather think it is a consequence of being confronted with several languages at a young age. Or, quite simply, he just couldn’t care less. I feel reassured by his lively interest in various subjects though and his creativity in thinking up ideas. Recently he created his own scuba diving equipment – a plastic bottle with a hose in it and a rope to attach it onto his back. Of course, like any father when thinking of his children, I would love to believe that he is a budding genius waiting to be discovered. But perhaps we should more realistically face the distinct possibility that he is just lazy, full stop. Time will tell. Right now we want him first and foremost to be bien dans sa peau, and apart from his very mixed feelings about school he is a healthy and balanced kid, with a bit of a temper. Last anecdote in this kids’ catalogue: A. got angry with M. and T. recently and gave them an earful. T. was in tears. R. walked up to A., gave her a very angry look (he still doesn’t really talk) and a big slap on the knee, then walked to his sister to hug and comfort her. I was so proud of him when A. told me!