I’m back just to post about AIS and it’s not good. My son didn’t pass their impossible to answer questions, not that I liked the school it just bothered me that I didn’t see the signs before. I felt there was no place for my son from the start, they only went ahead with the interview so they can take our 25 kd interview fee.

They expected A LOT from my 3yr old son. I know my son gets distracted easily, I guess it’s normal with all kids my son’s age so it shouldn’t be a reason at all. He answered all his colours, shapes and numbers, in spite of him being ill, and that wasn’t enough for them. They wanted him to hop on one foot, he tried to, lost balance, his other foot came down. Plus he wasn’t able to draw a girl or boy, how many 3yr olds can draw? I still can’t draw! My cousin who is 10yrs, goes to AIS still doesn’t know how spell simple words!

The worst thing about all of this was the interviewer she had a strict face on her, she didn’t smile, very impatient, kept looking at her watch as though we were wasting her time, and to top all of this, her accent didn’t sound so great! I didn’t feel it was fair but thanks to God he wasn’t accepted in their school, I don’t want my son to be around such stuck up people.

Registration has started almost everywhere for the next term. I haven’t made up my mind yet on where to enroll my son. He turns 4yrs in August.

My options are:

AIS: School building is very old and it needs major renovation. I took a tour around the KG department. I noticed their KG teachers were not Americans but everyone was super friendly. I loved the fact that the school offers IBO which is a great move.

Registration fee is 30 KD. School fees: KG 1 1936 KD.

Tel: 22255155

ASK: School provides amazing facilities, it’s so huuuuge. I loved it in so many ways. The lady who showed us around knew what she was doing. Problem is their fees are ridiculous. I would so love my kid to go there.

School fees: KG 1 2410 and KG 2 2545 KD.

Tel: 22664341

BSK: They didn’t let us look around, and we’ll have to wait until March to apply his papers. We need an appointment as well to look around.

School fees: 2215 KD.

Tel: 25621701/25622701

KES: I was told over the phone that I would be able to look around without a prior appointment turns out we’re not allowed! I didn’t like their admin. lady, she’s not a friendly type of person. Plus I was told my son would be on the waiting list. I can still hand in his application form and no registration fees so I think I’ll give it a try.

School fees: 1315 KD.

Tel: 25655216/25655208/25622392

It’s such a hard decision for us. I know my way around a British system and that’s why I wanted to consider British schools at first but I’m kinda liking American schools now. What worries me is they’re going to be different to what I’m used to and I’ll be doing the teaching in the end. I really hope I don’t teach, I suck at teaching!

Starting from this month I’ve changed my son’s nursery because I didn’t feel he liked it there and I don’t think he learned anything.

Signs:

- he was so cranky when he came back home

- he didn’t want to go there the next day

- they lost his pics and I got pissed. I refused to bring anymore pics

- he was ill almost every week, actually from day one he got himself a cold

- one day he came back home with a bruise on his cheek, he was bit by a girl!

- his teacher couldn’t even spell his name right

- his teacher gave him candies

- his teacher seemed clueless on how to control her class

- his teacher would call one of the kids with a girl’s nickname, I felt so offended

I think the nickname was enough to make me want to drop him out asap.

Hassan grabs at the kid’s eyeballs without reason, his teacher is complaining and some parents have come forth and complained about my son’s violent behaviour. Today I talked to him and asked him not to beat up kids, I told him to behave. What should I do? Should I take him out before they kick him out? I’ve noticed he’s not social at all and most of the time he’s on his own. Kids are so scared of him. They probably have nightmares of him too! I’m afraid he’ll turn into a bully. I don’t want my child to hit other kids except in self-defense. I don’t use much force with him. I might shout, pretend I’m very cross and spank him if he’s done a very bad thing like playing with an electricity socket or pulling at my hair. Some parents burn their kids with a match as a form of punishment and tell me they love their kids to death, that’s abuse. I’m not like that and I don’t think I’m spoiling him? Is it too early to worry about this?

I couldn’t get my son to go to nursery today so I took him back home, I tried giving him candies bas makoo fayda! Maybe he was sleepy, anyways I’m not taking him tomorrow because the teacher told me there’s an outing for the older kids and the little kids will stay on their own at the nursery, so I’ll let him rest for a day or two until he makes up his mind. I hope he’ll start going again but what if he still doesn’t want to go? how can I make him want to go?

It’s his first week, actually it’s his 3rd day only and already he got a cold. I had a feeling since yesterday because he was acting real cranky, now he’s showing all the symptoms. I still don’t know whether I should let him rest tomorrow or not. I’ve seen a lot of parents still take their kids to the nursery in spite of their colds.

Today is Hassan’s first day at the nursery. All I can say it all went well, elhamdillah. I’m so proud of my baby. I just want to thank everyone who helped me find the right nursery. Choosing one wasn’t easy because there’s so many to choose from that it made so hard for me to decide, but in the end I decided the location is much more important. I’ll post his pics later.