Rockstarism #189 – Volunteering In School Rockstarism

So with morning sickness easing, I finally made it back to volunteering during free-play time in Rockstar’s Kindy. The Rockstar is pleased, and tells both our driver and helper that there is a schedule change since I’ll be in school (ie will need a sandwich for lunch and will have a different pickup time) before I can. And then on the morning of my first day back…

Rockstar: <gravely, sitting down nearby as I put on my makeup> So Mum. What do you say when you meet my friends?

Me: <thinking: Is he serious?> Uh…. “Hello”?

Rockstar: <nodding approvingly> Yes.

Me: <thinking: He has got to be kidding me..> Then what do you say when you meet my friends?

Rockstar: <huffily> I’m not saying anything to (my friend whose son he hates.)

Me: How come I don’t get to do that with your friends whose mums I don’t like??

Rockstar: I have to think. I need a minute.

Me: Well?

Rockstar: Are you sure it’s been a minute?

Me: Yes.

Rockstar: Oh-Kay.. Be-cause… I don’t want you to get in trouble.

Me: Why get in trouble, I’m not going to get in trouble for not talking to your friends’ mums I can’t stand. (Hypothetical of course, just want to see what he says.)

Rockstar: <reasonably> I only don’t want to talk to one of your friends. I can’t stand (her son). I’m fine with the others… I talk to (other classmate)’s Mummy. (Btw Rockstar hates this one boy because he used to keep reminding Rockstar he’s smaller…)

Me: So I’m expected to be nice to all your friends?

Rockstar: <nodding emphatically > Yeah.

Me: What if your friends are not nice to me?

Rockstar: I’ll be nicer to the ones that are nice to you!

So I come in for the first time to volunteer on the K2 floor, and Rockstar jumps up before they’ve quite finished their lesson on caterpillars transforming into butterflies (come to think of it I vaguely remember Rockstar coming home and reciting the lifecycle of a frog several days ago). Off they all go to wash up for snack, while I’m brought to a “literacy corner” with magnetic alphabet writing aids and chalkboards…

Except a good part of the 45 minutes some of Rockstar’s schoolmates request I read them some of the books in the library corner, so we end up doing that (I must’ve been less interesting with alphabet writing) – and no sign of Rockstar. Not even when I’m picking up my bag to leave. Finally he’s one of the last in, as the other kids are gathering for their Quiet Reading Time; he requests a book which I end up totally improvising just to finish up quickly (was late – had tea appointment with friend who leaves for Singapore the next day – in fact I would’ve left already but I was waiting for him to come in because I hadn’t seen him all session).

And then when I see him again after school…

Me: S-oo… should Mummy still come help out in school?

Rockstar: <firmly> Yes. You have to come.

Me: Uh, you realize we hardly saw each other?

Rockstar: I was busy in the playground. We were playing hide and seek. 

Me: That’s fine dear, but you still like that I came in even if we didn’t see each other?

Rockstar: Yes Mum. We were both busy. You were busy upstairs, I was busy downstairs.  

Ok, so apparently he likes me to go in anyway – fine by me, better than him being all clingy (though the mum in me will always be a little “Really meh? Don’t need Mummy already meh? So soon?”) 

Rockstar: Mum. I saw (classmate) being nice to you. I’ll be nicer to her tomorrow.

Ok, a little mollified.

Get your game face on, Mum...