Chaos reigned all around. It was difficult to believe that on a normal day, this place exudes quiet discipline. Children were shrieking and their parents were milling around, socializing, and discussing school politics maybe. The school was spread over four floors with an atrium in the centre. Today, the atrium was a buzz with activity. The school looked smaller when filled with so many people.
I was waiting in queue; a bundle of nerves. I don’t remember feeling this nervous ever. Not when I was giving job interviews, nor when I was getting married, nor at my yearly appraisal. I was at my son’s school for his ‘Open House.’ For the uninitiated, an ‘Open House’ is when the school teachers share the student’s progress with the parents. It is one day, when the parents get 10 minutes with the teachers or more depending on how “naughty” their child has been. My husband had accompanied me. He was as cool as a cucumber and couldn’t comprehend why I was so worried.
“Relax; if he’s taken after me, I’m sure he will be bright, and extremely naughty. And I do hope he has done some funny things in class that I can be proud of,” he said. I however hoped to God that he hadn’t! Especially since I was always the best student in class. I did well in every subject including extra curricular activities. Sincerity was my middle name, and I received praises galore from all my teachers. My husband was different. On one hand, he was extremely brainy. But he always topped two lists; academics, and a black list for indulging in pranks. He had broken benches in his school as well!
Finally, it was our turn. We waited just outside the classroom. All the benches were pushed to the side and there was a table in the centre where the teachers sat. We met some parents of other children. And heard the following, “Oh, they only had wonderful things to say about Arnav. He is doing extremely well.” “I am so happy with the school and the teachers. They said Divisha is definitely ahead of her class.”
My heart was now pumping beyond endurance, and I wanted to get the suspense over with. What would they say about Advay? “He’s a darling, and we love him so much? He is way too naughty to be in school?” Or maybe worse, “Mrs Patil, we can’t keep him in school, he is just a bad influence on the rest.”
I felt ashamed for thinking all these things about my angelic son. Maybe not exactly angelic. But he is mostly well behaved; save his naughty bouts. He is shy in front of strangers, and has a mind of his own. But what would he be up to in school?
“Please come in. Advay’s parents right?”
I almost ran in and sat down. My husband followed confidently.
“So what are the changes you have noticed in Advay lately?”
“Well, he has definitely become naughtier and……”
“Absolutely. He is very naughty in class. He goes around spraying everybody with his water bottle. So don’t think he drinks all the water.”
I could hear my husband chuckle. I kicked his foot, and the teachers looked a little alarmed. Had they noticed?
“Whenever we teach something, he gets up, turns around, and sits with his back to us.”
My face lost all colour. My son doing this? My husband was positively beaming.
“And, the other day, he hit some kids in class as well.”
I wanted the earth to split, and swallow me. By now my husband’s chest was puffing up with pride. All the other mothers had received such glowing feedback. Where had I gone wrong? My husband’s gene pool? Very likely!
“He eats other kid’s tiffins in the break as well. We do give snacks from the school, but if he’s still hungry he can ask us for more.”
My husband looked like his son had just won the Olympic gold. By now, I was dreading the next bombshell.
“Other than that, he’s doing fine. He loves playing outdoors, and making friends. Please explain to him to not throw water, and also not to hit other kids.”
Doing fine? Loves playing outdoors and making friends? That’s the only positive thing they have to say about MY son?
My husband stood up with a wide grin on his face. “Thank you for your feedback. We will see you at the next Open house.” I could barely muster a word.
We walked out of the classroom. My eyes blurred with tears, as we made our way to the car.
How could this happen? He is such a bright kid. Other kids seem to be far ahead, and less naughty.
It’s because I am a working mother. I should probably quit my job.
No, it’s my husband’s fault. Just because he has done all these things in his childhood, he encourages Advay. We have to be strict with him.
Is he falling in bad company? I should check his friends at school and in our building.
Oh God! Am I equipped to handle his naughtiness? No way. I am definitely going to a counselor.
I burst into tears as soon as I sat in the car. My husband continued smiling at me.
“How can you smile at a time like this? This is not a trivial matter. Did you hear what the teachers said? We need to do something. After all, these years are the foundation for his future. It’s all your fault. Wait. Why am I blaming you? I am the one who is to blame, I mean…..”
My husband held me by the shoulders and shook me. He looked into my eyes and said in ane even tone, “Advay is only THREE-years-old! If he doesn’t do all these things at this age, when will he?”
I froze, as realization dawned on me. My husband was right. I didn’t even go to school before the age of FIVE!. And didn’t I always tell myself, that I would never compare my child with anyone else?
An image of my three-year-old jumping around in class, throwing water, eating assorted tiffins, and sitting with his back to the teacher popped up in my head.
And we both burst out laughing.
“How was Open House for Advay?” A fellow parent called to ask.
“Lovely. Advay is definitely ahead of his class,” I quipped.
Aditi Patil is an MBA and banker, and steal moments from her routine to tell the stories unfolding around her. She is currently making the transition from steal-time writer to a full-time writer, Corporate-Trainer and Life-Coach. She is a certified Heal Your Life Workshop Leader (http://www.healyourlifeworkshops.com/myprofile.php?ids=868 ) and conducts personal development, and life skills workshops as well. She has also written two children’s books which she is now sending to publishers. She blogs at http://sunshine-in-a-box.blogspot.com