The (Nursery) School of Hard Knocks

In the early years of childhood I’m certain that most children get themselves into the odd toddler spat or seven. It’s just part of the growing up process. You soon get used to being the parent soothing a hurt child, or being the embarrassed parent apologising profusely.

However, the toddler spats I’ve become accustomed to in no way prepared me for what happened to Big E this morning.

Today was our first settling in session at the new nursery. Big E had had a great time in the pre-school room. He’d played outside on the bikes and even tentatively started making a few friends. Having not asked for me once, the staff all told me they thought he was going to be fine.

All good so far.

As I was getting both the children ready to go in the cloakroom another Mum came to collect her obviously older son. He came bounding out of the pre-school room, made a beeline for Big E who was chatting away to me minding his own business, flew at him like a dog, wrestled him to the ground, sat on top of him, and stared punching him in the face.

I ran to pick Big E up who was shouting for the boy to get off him, while the other boy’s Mum dragged her son away kicking and screaming, with him still trying to grapple his way back to Big E to hit him some more. His mum, obviously embarrassed, apologised to me while she dragged her son out of the door.

Big E was very shaken up as the attack came out of nowhere. He has a bump on the back of his head where he hit the floor, and his nose is red from being punched.

To say it spoiled an otherwise great morning is an understatement.

Whilst I’m very happy with the nursery and the lovely staff, I’m really worried about Big E spending time with the boy who randomly attacked him. I’m worried that it’ll happen again and the staff won’t tell me, or that he won’t want to go because of the other boy. One of the nursery staff was there when it happened and didn’t really say much. I guess she has to be impartial.

I’m more than a little disturbed at how vicious the other boy was. This wasn’t your average toddler fight, it was a nasty, un-provoked, shockingly vicious attack.

So now, rather than feeling more at ease after with having to put them both in nursery, I’m left feeling even more unsettled. Why are these things never simple?

Here’s hoping that his second session tomorrow is much less fraught! Fingers crossed…..

UPDATE: After speaking to the staff in the pre-school room and seeing the boy again today it is apparent that he has behavioral and learning difficulties. I didn’t ask too many questions about him as it’s not my place. He seemed to be well looked after by the staff but it’s obviously just a new situation both he and Big E will have to get used to. I suspect the new face threw him a little.

I also said hello to his Mum again as I’m sure she was feeling awkward too.

Big E was, unfortunately, a bit unsettled today. I’m hoping that he’ll get used to it all soon enough.