Thursday 22 April 2010

First Day At School

Today was The Youngests first day at school. She is only three. Where I live kids start full-time school the term before they're four. She will not be going full-time untill September, but in the meantime will go one day a week in order to get slowly accustomed to school life before she begins reception class properly after the summer holidays.

I got up even earlier than usual to make doubly sure that we had plenty of time to get ready, figuring that if she was feeling at all nervous about going to school for the first time, the last thing she would need was a rushed and chaotic morning. We went through the usual routine of breakfast, teeth brushing, face washing and getting dressed. Then I brushed her hair in front of the big mirror in my bedroom and arranged it into two plaits. I smiled at her reflection and asked how it felt to be a big school-girl. She hugged her toy cat and said, 'Meow.'

Her brothers shot like bullets out of the car and into the playground as soon as we got to the school. Their bags slapping against their legs, they disappeared quickly round the corner to the school entrance. I lifted The Youngest out of her car seat and set her down on the pavement just near the school gates. I went to take her hand but suddenly she was off! Like a coiled spring, her little legs motoring as fast as they possibly could, her plaits flapping in the wind, determinedly hot on the tail of her older brothers. She ran as fast as she could into her classroom and didn't give me so much as a backwards glance. I hovered neurotically a while at the classroom door asking her teacher to please remind her to go to the loo, and please would she phone me if there were any problems at all, but The Youngest had already made herself perfectly comfortable at a table with some other children and was doing a spot of colouring.

Ah... mixed feelings. She's my last child, and while a big part of me is relishing the prospect of having more time to do my own thing and pursue my own ambitions, another part of me felt heavy hearted today. My beautiful little girl is growing up and becoming more and more independent, and while I know this is something to be celebrated, I must admit to a small lump forming in my throat as I walked back out through the windy playground towards my car this morning.

8 comments:

  1. not looking forward to my baby boy going to proper school in Sept 2011. will really be the end of an era...

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  2. That is so young to go to school full time. But kids are starting earlier than when my kids were that age.

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  3. So good that she's happy to go though. I was still struggling with my son until a couple of months ago (he's 7 and autistic). He only wanted to do every other day, and there was nothing we could do to make him! Eventually we agreed with the school that he should stay home Fridays, and now he's happy to go four days a week. But the cries and daily uncertainty as to whether one od us would have to take time off work really wore me down. So I'm very glad your daughter is enthusiastic about it.

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  4. Three does seem incredibly young, doesn't it - mind you, I suppose it must be easier for your youngest after having seen her siblings go to school. My youngest starts school September 2011 and it just seems so soon to me, so I really feel for you! x

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  5. Oh bless her for being such a big brave girl! And Mummy too. Bet it feels very strange? Little One has a while yet but I went on a course today so was first ever day of leaving her with anyone except Dad (that freaks me out, was off out to work with other 2 within months of birth). Felt very very strange. Think letting go of number 3 will be harder. A friend recently described it as an "end of an era" for her.

    MD xx

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  6. My eldest just started, that was hard enough. 3 seems so young, it really does! Hope she carries on enjoying it. x

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  7. Thanks for the comments everybody. 3 is very young isn't it. Too young really I think. But all her friends from nursery are going up at the same time so I don't want to hold her back and have her miss out on the company of her peers.

    At least she's enthusiastic for now!

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  8. Three is very young. I know in Scandanavian countries they don't start school until much later and I reckon that's better. But then they have extensive social welfare programs to insure that families can afford to keep their kids home until 6. Damned Swedes and their effective socialism.

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