Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The news we never wanted

Tuesday 3rd June 2008
At 5.45am Ian got a call from Carolyn confirming our worst fears, Carolyn’s mum had died. It was the news we all hoped we would not hear.
We had a chat and decided that Ian would tell the children after school today, so the day started as normally as Ian could make it with the kids getting up and ready for school at 6am.
When Ian went to pick the kids up from school in the afternoon he arrived early to see the Principal, he explained to him that he was going to give the kids the bad news tonight, so he should warn the class teachers that there may be some reaction in school tomorrow. When the kids came out of class Fraser handed over a note from school informing us that there was a meeting at school tonight to let parents know what will be expected from the kids when they go to camp next Monday, Ian asked him how long ago he received the note and he went a bit red and said that he was supposed to hand it over on Friday but forgot it was in his bag.
That put the kibosh on the idea of telling them tonight, there was no way Ian was going to take three tearful kids to a meeting at a time when they would normally be in bed, so we will have another go tomorrow.
It is Fraser that is going on the School Camp outing next Monday for five days, they are going to Kalgoorlie Boulder, a mining town and will be visiting a gold mine while they are there. Let’s hope he remembers his old dad if he finds any on his visit.
The meeting went on a bit but it did let the parents know what would and wouldn’t be acceptable, no lollies (sweets), no phones or MP3 players, kids that misbehave would be excluded or sent home and it would be up to the parent to make the nine hour journey to go and pick them up, they are not beating around the bush with this one they are taking it very seriously.
While the meeting was on, Marisa, Kristian and a load of other kids managed to strip the classroom of all its play equipment and take it out to play in the playground which was in pitch darkness, god knows how much of it ever came back.
It has been a very stressful, emotional day today, Ian and Carolyn have always been together during times of stress and trauma and now they are 11,000 miles apart with only a phone line for comfort.

1 comment:

Little Nut Tree said...

I am so sorry. I have not been around. I've been wrapped up in my own shit which is far less important in the grand scheme of things.
A big big hug for you and yours. If there's anything I can do for you simply because I'm here in the UK then please let me know and I will gladly do whatever I can x
love x