Feb 01 2008
Packing the Youngest off the School
7.50 am. I woke with a fright. The alarm, set for 7.15 apparently failed to go off. Miss five six was starting school at 8.25. After a frantic rush, she made it – just.
Miss four, my baby, started kindergarten at 10.00am.
I asked her how she felt to be starting school – she replied “It is the most exciting day – ever!”
Bless her little heart. Dressed in her size four tunic which extended to half way down her shins, and blazer which over hung the end of her fingers by an inch. Yeah, I’m a slack mother – I really should have checked that more than five minutes before we left, so nanny could have worked her magic 😉
And her backpack – about half the size of her. I don’t know why, but I am reminded of an upturned turtle – perhaps be cause she looks like she will topple over from the sheer weight. Not that a lunch box and pair of runners is all that heavy. She just seemed so little, and I was momentarily questioning my decision to send her to school early.
The conversation on the way to school included going over the rules. She’d been prepped.
“So what do you remember?”, I asked.
“No toilet humour” she replied “and no talking back to the teacher”.
Well, that too I suppose, but the message was more along the lines of “no talking while the teacher is talking, and make sure you listen carefully”.
We get to the waiting room where half a dozen other students and accompanying parents were waiting. She sat herself down on a lounge (with one available seat) and right next to a girl who’s parents were trying to take one last minute happy snap. That’s my girl – never one to miss a photo opportunity!
We were ushered towards the library. She marched ahead, on her own. She stormed walked confidently into the room where there were around 50 other kindergarten kids. Straight past the receiving teacher all ready with her name tag. And over to the lego. No backward glance. No hesitation.
I figured a quick exit was the only real option. Before the tears came. Well, any parental tears that is.
But I felt I should say goodbye first, in case she I got anxious later.
So I wandered over, lent down and said “We’re going now”.
Somewhat disappointed she replied “Oh? Where are we going?”
“No, darling, Daddy and I are going now”.
“Oh, OK, bye”.
I suspect my earlier concern was unfounded. She is ready. Not so sure about me though…
11 Responses to “Packing the Youngest off the School”
We still have another two weeks of school holidays down here. Although we are going to pay our levys and get stationery today – $620 for me and my sister.
awww. hugs. You’ll be fine. And so will she.
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Sending you a huge cuddle.
She will have a wonderful day. And so will you, eventually. I remember that first day and week like it was yesterday.
Kelley’s last blog post..……and my accident for today will be….
My youngest is still at school – my oldest daughter starts her first full time job next week after finishing VCE last year – and you actually never really get over the milestones
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Hope she had a great day first fay at big school. I think they all look like their clothes and bag are 10 times too big. Hope Mummy coped ok too 😉
I think reading all these posts about first days is making the anticipation worse. My baby starts Kindergarten next Tuesday
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Thanks every one for your wishes and hugs, I’m fine
She did have a great day! She loves her teacher and gave her a kiss and a hug on the way out, much to the surprise of the (female) teacher (yes, we did suggest this wasn’t necessary, as teachers have to be careful about this).
I think the sweetest moment though was the hug between miss 6 and miss 4 when they saw each other after school, and the concern that miss 6 was showing. “So you really had a good day”, “is there anything else to tell?”.
I love to be quiet and just listen to their conversations – it’s heart warming that they are so close, I only hope it survives adolescence 😉
Awwww how gorgeous.
I think our little people are perfect mirrors of us and often display behaviours they think we’re expecting.
So you must have hidden your anxiety well and remained very positive.
Good on you!
CB x
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Very cute. Our kids are 7 and 9 now, but I still enjoy taking them to school. Certainly more than the getting ready to leave bit.
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Thats good to hear (that she had a good day).
My girls about around 2 1/2 years apart. They dont like eachother very much some days lately (they are now 13 and 11) but are still quite close……. although I think the fact that they live in two seperate towns could very well be the thing thats keeping them close! lol
The teachers at my kids school very strongly discourage physical affection towards teacher – it’s just not a risk they are willing to take with their careers
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I’ve seen kiddies not coping … but many more parents not coping! It sounds like you both did a smashing job.
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I started my twin boys (my eldest) as kindy last week! Big milestone, for me, not them apparently.
I only found your blog today as I was googling non-christian kids in catholic schools. We live in a very small western NSW town. We have chosen the catholic school for it’s educational qualities, the staff, and the school community that we will encounter. The local public school and everything about it scares us. This morning (their 4th day), whilst driving them to the bus stop, I got the typical twin double speak on Jesus. I was raised catholic in a non-practicing household, we have had our children baptised, partly for tradition and partly so they could attend this catholic school.
twin I “who is Jesus”
Twin II “He was a man who loved us so much, and he died”.
Mum thinks “hmm, this is harmeless, we will agree with that and move onto to other topics.
Twin I “and then he came back to life” “Is that real? Or pretend? And he wears a white shirt and his heart is red and on fire”
Twin II “He died because his heart was on fire”
Twins I and II “so is he real”?
After waffling on about how some people think he is real, and some don’t, starting to say that I don’t , but then not wanting him to say this out loud and get into trouble at school, the conversation ends when Twin I says “I think I believe he is real” and the bus comes.
Your son, in his wonderful piece of writing, seemed to have a dealt with the issue well, , but with 5 year olds?
I guess I need to very quickly do my reseaarch and get my thoughts in order!