The Power of "T"

Separation anxiety has been a real issue for Matty recently, after the teachers at his new school made him stay in class on his own for 30-40 minutes everyday, while his dada pretended to go to the bathroom, or somewhere nearby to buy a drink. So what exactly did he do inside when dada was gone? He cried... cried... and cried some more. We've never seen him like this before. After a traumatising few days, Matty bacame glued to his dada inside the classroom, and wouldn't do anything without his dada next to him.

The other day Matty's teacher finally "suggested" that my hubby stopped going to classes with him. She said his emotions may be affecting Matty indirectly (ha ha ha ha ha). She also recommended that my helper go to school with him instead because he's less emotionally attached to her.

Before I took Matty to school with my helper this morning, I remembered Matty REALLY wanted to try drinking tea like all the adults, so I told him that if he didn't cry at school I would let him drink some:

Me: "Matty no cry at school ok?"

Matty: "Matty cry!"

Me: "Matty if you want to drink tea like dada and mama, you have to be a big boy--that means no crying at school ok?"

Matty: "What kind of tea?"

Me: "There are different kinds. Some are green, some are brown, or light yellow. Some even smells like fruits."

Matty: "Matty want!"

Me: "Then Matty remember no cry at school."

Matty: "Matty no cry."

And to help him remember his mission, I wrote the letter 'T' on both his palms just so he can see it, and remember his tea, if he cries.

So did it work? According to my helper ... it did! She said when Matty wanted to cry after I left the school, he looked at his palm and stopped crying.

The teacher called me later and told me Matty only cried for two minutes during the 30 minute separation-- a real BIG improvement! I just hope it will last.