F-0037 An interview with the parent of a child who still says, but I did say it

(Said to be a copy of the transcript of an interview with a parent. The interviewer’s remarks are shown with dashes. The part where the interviewer gives their name is not included in the copy, and the names of the child and the family are masked.)

— Could you start with June 16?

When I came to pick up, my kid came out holding the teacher’s hand, and one look at the face told me: been crying. From the teacher, the explanation was that there had been a mix-up over the replies during hide-and-seek. A mix-up — that was the word they used.

— And your child said?

Didn’t talk on the way home. After the bath, out of nowhere: but I did say it. Was hiding, heard, ready yet, and properly said, not yet — and ◯◯-chan, the seeker, said, you didn’t. Being made out to have lied — I think that was what hurt the most.

— What did you hear from the staff?

That five hid, and the replies were four. Five counting mine. So I tried to think it through. Whether it was my kid’s that went missing, or. I’m sorry — I stopped partway. However I count it, the numbers don’t come out.

— Has anything changed since?

No more hide-and-seek, I think. The park is off, too, by the club’s rules. But the way my kid answers changed. When you call, it’s louder than before: coming! Sometimes twice. To make sure it’s heard, I think.

— Anything your child still says?

At bedtime, sometimes: but I did say it. It comes back, I think. When that happens, I’ve made it my rule to say: I heard you. I wasn’t there, so really, I don’t know. But when I say, I heard you, my kid sleeps.