Pride (In The Name Of Love)

The Year 6's always do an end of year production before they leave school, and Ben wasn't looking forward to it as he doesn't enjoy acting or singing at all. To his delight he managed to avoid this humiliation (in his opinion) by having the job of sitting at the back of the hall with a laptop making sure the script was shown correctly on the smart screen for the cast to see. This was his favourite production to date! I didn't take my camera with me as I knew he would be hidden at the back, but I wish I had now. At the end of the show the headteacher was thanking staff and teaching assistants for the efforts made to make the play happen, and all of a sudden he singled out Ben for his work and had him come to the front to receive his own applause and take a bow. Oh my, I really had to blink back the tears (I'm not known for my weeping!) He looked so proud and had an embarrassed smile, but he had enjoyed himself and felt an important part of the play. There have been lots of moments like this lately, Ben coming out of his shell a little more in public and doing things he would never have done a couple of years ago.

This morning Ben walked to school with me today instead of cycling as he usually does. He was lugging behind him a small suitcase for his 4 day residential trip with his class and walking slightly in front of me. He looked older all of a sudden... and very independent. After this trip Ben has one more day at school on Tuesday when they will have the Leavers Assembly. I've been dreading this, the end of Primary School and the start of Secondary, but this morning as I followed him to school I realised he was ready and I had to be too. He even let me discreetly kiss him goodbye in the playground!