The Junior Infants always enjoy doing art and craft class on a Friday afternoon before they go home. Their teacher Miss Dunne, only a few years out of teacher training college, is very enthusiastic and had a tremendous zest for life. In her spare time she can be observed pouring over websites such as Pinterest for ideas and things she might do with her class for the Friday afternoon art session.

 

 

The end of year was approaching, and June is a busy month in the school calendar. The annual school tour, sports day and end-of-term concert must be planned and organised – not to mention Father’s Day, which falls in the middle of the month. All had to be scheduled and approved by the school principal. A lot of work to be done!

 

 

As Father’s Day was approaching, Miss Dunne thought it would be prudent to swop the art class from Friday afternoon to Wednesday so that the craft she had planned would be ready to be sent home with the children on the Friday: paint dried and crafts tagged and glued with a special verse for the daddies.

 

 

Wednesday arrived and the children had come back into the classroom after playing outside. Claire, the classroom assistant, a maternal woman in her early 50s with a gentle nature and a kind smiling face, had a very special way with the children. The children loved Claire; she had endless patience. She is a mother herself to two grown-up children and a grandmother to a young boy. She had worked with children both in pre-school and primary school, having gone to night courses to train as a childcare practitioner, which is how they are referred to now.

 

 

As Claire walked into the room she noticed six-year-old Ava, a quite well-mannered little girl, sitting at the table, head bowed into her hands. On closer inspection, she saw that poor little Ava was sobbing into her hands, eyes full of tears, strands of dark curly hair matted round her damp cheeks and her nose starting to dribble.

 

 

Claire walked quietly over to Ava and sat down in the empty seat next to her. She tentatively asked: “What is the matter, my love? I see you are very sad and upset.” Ava turned a tear-streamed face toward the kind woman sitting beside her. “I-I d-don’t want to make a Father’s D-day craft,” she stammered between sobs. 

 

 

Claire listened intently wondering where this was going and what can of worms it may reveal. She repeated: “You don’t want to make daddy a card or draw him a picture?” “No,” Ava replied emphatically. Claire took a breath and said: “Listen, Ava, I will fetch you a tissue and you can dry your eyes and we can have a little chat about this.” 

 

 

Claire got up and retrieved the box of tissues from the shelf by the teacher’s desk. She offered it to Ava, who gratefully took one to dab her damp eyes and blow her nose. Then she volunteered: “I-I don’t have a daddy anymore – he went away with Mandy t-to Australia, the other side of the world, and they have a new b-baby which daddy likes better than me.”

 

 

Claire listened to this from a small sensitive child and her heart ached for the little girl sitting next to her. Her dark brown eyes were once again filling with tears. “Oh Ava, my poor love!” said Claire, though she was not quite sure what she should say at all, as she was unfamiliar with Ava’s home situation.

 

 

With her vast experience of working with children down through the years, she could not help but feel annoyed with how structured the school is. We celebrate Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Days and other festivals like St Patrick’s Day. Yes, she agreed it is our tradition and it is good to teach children about these special occasions as they come. But Claire felt that in today’s society there is so much more diversity; the family unit no longer exists as mother, father and children. Families come in different forms now. Children are reared with one parent, or by grandparents; they might live in a blended families or indeed still have the traditional family of mum, dad and the children.

 

 

Claire mulled over the notion of what to do when a dad does not play a part in his family? How do we get around Father’s Day? The other children in the class were chatting in great excitement about the pictures they will paint for their dads. The media and shops are advertising cards, gifts and days out to celebrate Father’s Day. No thought is given to the child who does not wish to part take in this celebration. Some may feel left out or different from their peers and yet what every child wants is to fit in and be the same as their peers.

 

 

“Claire?” a quiet voice interrupts her thoughts. “Would Miss Dunne be cross if I made a card for my grandad. He is very special and mummy and I love him so much.”

 

 

Claire smiled and felt a weight lift from her heart. “No dear, Miss Dunne will not be cross and I think that is a splendid idea.” 

 

 

Claire rose from her cramped little chair to hear Ava telling Lucy, the child sitting opposite her, all about her plans to make her grandad a very special card.