PARENTING January 12, 2004 Issue

Steps of progress

By Cyril Rakhmanoff

"I'll see you at lunch time" I whispered in the ear of my four-year-old son. "Yes, Daddy," Nicolas said hesitantly as he stepped into the schoolyard.

I watched.

As usual, he made a few steps, then stood still, waiting for the bell to ring and his teacher to appear. He was oblivious of the children laughing and running back and forth through the schoolyard. He seemed to know that no one would come to play with him.