The mother who praised her child for sleeping soundly during class observation.

At some point, parents who behave in ways that defy common sense began to be called "monster parents."
Through the internet and from teachers I know, these "monster parents" have become a frequent topic of conversation.
I'm not sure about labeling everyone with the "monster" prefix. However, even when listening to stories objectively, there are indeed parents whose behavior makes me sympathize with the teachers facing them.

But, working in this profession, I also encounter the exact opposite—truly wonderful parents.

Today, I would like to talk about one such mother I witnessed.

It was a class observation day held in April, shortly after the new school year began.

What kind of class is it?
What kind of homeroom teacher is there?
How is my child spending their time in this new environment?
Many parents seem curious about these things, so I feel that more people come to watch the class observation at the beginning of the school year than at any other time.



It was the fifth period in late spring, with soft light streaming in through the windows.
It was the first class observation in elementary school.

The class was a math lesson on numbers.
One of the students, Kei-kun (a pseudonym), was holding his pencil with all his might, counting blocks and writing numbers as best as he could, even if a bit clumsily.

However, before long, his head began to sway back and forth.

The homeroom teacher casually went near Kei-kun's desk, tapping on it with a finger or gently patting his back to prompt him to pay attention, but it had absolutely no effect.

Before long, Kei-kun's back curled up, and he rested his chubby cheeks on his sun-tanned arms, falling into a deep sleep.

This was right in the middle of the class observation.
Of course, many parents were standing at the back and sides of the classroom watching.
In front of them, the homeroom teacher probably hesitated to raise their voice and say,
"Kei-kun, wake up!"
or "Go wash your face!"


They tried various things to wake him up as much as possible, but it had no effect at all.

What should they do?
While keeping the ongoing lesson in the back of their mind, they must have been panicking inside.

Other teachers in the classroom supporting the children also went to Kei-kun's side, trying to shake him or call out to him, desperately trying to do something, but it was to no avail. Kei-kun just kept sleeping soundly...



After the class ended, Kei-kun's mother approached the homeroom teacher.

The mother must have felt sad. She had come to see her child doing his best, but Kei-kun had been asleep for the entire second half.

Or perhaps she was angry.
"Why didn't you wake him up more?"

Feeling nervous and anxious, the homeroom teacher said to Kei-kun's mother,

"I'm sorry... Kei-kun fell asleep."

Then, his mother said this.

"Kei must have worked very hard all day."
She said that with a gentle smile.



"That's right, that's right. During P.E. in the first period, he did this and that... and during Japanese in the third period, he did this and that...!"
The homeroom teacher, feeling relieved, told the mother about Kei-kun's hard work and achievements throughout the day.



Hearing this story from another teacher, I was deeply moved.


I don't have children.
But what if I were Kei-kun's mother?

-Oh, right in front of everyone.
Why today of all days...!
What must the other mothers be thinking? How embarrassing.

When I got home, I might even say something like,
"You should have tried harder during the class observation."

It had been a few weeks since he entered elementary school.

Kei-kun had indeed worked hard all day, using his small body to the fullest in his studies and play.
Still young, he must have reached his physical limit in the middle of the fifth period.



Yet, seeing her child fast asleep, this mother—despite not having seen him during the morning—imagined that he must have worked very hard.

She was a mother who fully affirmed Kei-kun, who always tries his best.


Surely, when she got home, she would praise him for his efforts in the first half of the observation. She might even praise him for the hard work the teacher told her about from the morning.


Setting aside the eyes of others or the fact that she had come all that way, she simply praised Kei-kun with warm words.

It was a remark that gave a glimpse of the boundless love she pours onto him every day.


I don't think I could be a mother with such a big heart yet.


These days, I am often taught how to face children by such "God" parents, rather than "monster" ones.

#TeacherEssay
#ElementarySchoolTeacher