The sadism of sports day

I am angry, very angry.

I attended my primary school children's sports day today. I took along my pre-schooler and we packed a little picnic to make it a fun day for him.

My son ran in an obstacle race. The first task was to do an egg and spoon race until the next obstacle. When the whistle blew, my son's egg blew off the spoon and he tried to retrieve it. By the time he did so, the other boys had either finished the race of were just about finishing.

Showing what I see as great strength of character, he continued the course going through the various obstacles but finishing several minutes after the person before him. He was clearly upset and went to sit a little distance away from the other children.

He remained there with nobody offering him a kind word or anything. The teachers and staff totally ignored his obvious distress. I was on the banking on the opposite side of the field and could see he was unhappy. I watched thinking that any second someone would go to comfort him but nope.

So I got up and went to him. He was sobbing, breaking his heart. I asked him if he could cope with doing any more and he said that he couldn't. I know this will bring huge judgement but at that point, I took my son to sit on the banking with me telling the teacher he was feeling unwell. If I had opened my mouth to deal with the real issue at that time, I would have exploded. I have spent years trying to keep my children healthy emotionally as well as physically. I resent the fact that the school staff do not provide emotional back up to a sensitive child.

Then I watched as my younger daughter did her races. Inevitably, she came last. It is what happens. It is in my children's genes - I was just the same and remember the torture of sports day. People don't realize that it is not just the day itself but the worrying about it for weeks in advance and the bullying from other children afterwards.

My daughter cried after every race but was supported by staff who put their arms round her and talked to her. One even did one of the races with her which helped a lot. Then they brought her to me for a cuddle before she went back into class.

My son is that bit older and male. This does not mean that he does not need support from teaching staff particularly when bullies are giving him grief for the fact that he is not great at sports.

So I brought my son home with me. Naughty, aren't I? I love him. Why should he suffer just because he cannot run fast?

If I complain to the school about the lack of humanity from teaching staff, I will doubtless be viewed as a difficult mother. Others might say I am a loving one.