Red Sky at night …. fisherman’s delight. Red Sky in the morning …. fisherman’s warning.

Yes it works.

A routine dental appointment ended with me trying to stem blood from the mouth for 4 hours. That’s a good start. Especially as I’m one of those odd souls who is fine with blood as long as it’s not mine….

Then school struck again….

Son had been looking forward to getting his school award from the celebration evening. That’s all changed now.

I don’t want to go. I REALLY don’t want to go. Turns out it’s not a party after all. Everyone getting an award has to go on stage and then give a little speech to the crowd. Going to be at least 100 parents sat in the audience. We have to practice the speech tomorrow. When I told the teacher about my Aspergers she said ‘it would be good for me'”

So we have gone from a boost to self confidence to meltdown. Doesn’t help when the kids have been told that they are representing the school so they need to be in full uniform and speak with a loud clear voice. Speaking to a large audience is a challenge for anyone. For a kid with Aspergers it’s a nightmare. Room full of strangers, no where to hide, all those eyes on you. One final twist is that the kids can take notes on stage to read from – well that’s bloody helpful when your dyslexic. It’s just not right. AGAIN.

So we have agreed that son will ask if he can get his award without going to the event. If he has to go then he is going to decline the award. If that’s the case then I’m sure a Dad , Son, Cat, Dog and Gerbils can come up with our own FUN awards night. The magic word being FUN.

51 thoughts on “Red Sky in the morning….”

  3. I think I’m back!! ANYWAY – THAT sounds like a nightmare. I completely agree. There is no way that he should be forced to accept his award on a stage, in front of a crowd AND THEN have to give a speech. I wouldn’t want the award either if that is how I had to get it. I support your decision.

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  5. I literally cringe when I read stuff like this. And don’t shoot me, but I do see both sides of it with one caveat. He certainly should not be FORCED to accept his award on stage and make a speech. Nor should the alternative be not receiving the award at all when he has clearly met all the requirements to earn it (unless the speech and the stage are part of the requirements which does not appear to be so). Me, personally, I’m always looking for the win-win. Something that allows him to participate in the ceremony, helps him grow socially and emotionally, and maintains his dignity. Where is the compromise? I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps he assists with passing out the awards? Perhaps you and he welcome the guests? Perhaps he and a trusted adult go on stage together? Perhaps he and a fellow student go on stage together? Perhaps a video of him accepting his award is recorded ahead of time and played for the audience? It bothers me, as I know it does you, that the situation is seen as all or nothing wherein he loses in both cases when his effort and achievement is what should be celebrated.

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  9. I hope he is given that award, so richly deserved, WITHOUT having to give a speech or stand in front of a crowd – that’s challenging enough for pretty much everybody. (At least, I cannot think of a single person that enjoys that, except perhaps performers and politicians). Ugh!

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  10. I think your awards night idea would be so much more fun and rewarding for him. I do not understand how these people are can be teachers without feeling compassion for kids that need things done a bit different then “ the way it should be” It sadly makes me want to homeschool him but that I know is not an easy task . I’m sorry .. too much said just upsets me. It’s all my opinion. 😔

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  11. Beautiful sky! For future dental bleeding issue, a wet tea bag held on the site helps stop the bleeding. 🤷‍♀️it works! (Hopefully you wont need to test it🙏)

    What kind of 🐃💩 is this award nonsense? In the home version is there a speech? Does the dog give it or the gerbils? More importantly, will there be punch and pie?😂

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  12. I haven’t heard that term in a long time I grow up in a small fishing / farming town.

    Schools and their stupid one way for all rules still burns my ass, a dinner out or delivery would be a nice evening for your son better than that school crap.

    ❤️✌️
    BY FOR NOW

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  13. It would seem the word ‘celebration’ has acquired some strange new definition involving doing the one thing most people fear above that of dying – public speaking to a room full of relative strangers – while in ‘fancy dress’ (and woe betide any boy foolish enough to have his tie ends further apart than the recommended distance or not having the tops of his socks level!!!) when you are about to enter your teens and therefore have the self-confidence of a house of cards in a tornado!

    The UK public school system – putting the Dick back in Dickensian! 🤬

    Are there any local/general/international papers you can threaten to get interested in publishing this ridiculousness when you approach them about their ‘celebration’ night?

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      1. From what i have seen of your ‘government’ there seems to be no coherent majority operating anywhere without an opposing voice shouting it down loudly (Orr_Derrr ORRRRRR_DERRRRRR!!!) and there should be many seeking to stick a knife into someone else’s back by pointing out the ineptitude involved in some circumstance like yours in a paper or magazine article – no??

        Just a matter of finding some rag or journalist who wants to do some government bashing. How hard could that be?? 🙂

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  16. I think that the school head teacher has lost the plot on what constitutes a good achievement award! Sounds more like a school self-promotion night… What a sham! I hope your pet awards night with son is fun. 😊🤞🏆

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