She is ready to take on the world.
My baby girl is now a big school girl.
In some ways, it really is only a small step for the family.
She already knows this school inside and out as her brother is here. But in the big picture, it feels like a giant leap for the family. No more kids at home. Time to really step it up now on my own career front and start the OSH juggle, proper meal planning and squeezing ‘all the things’ into after school hours.
We are two days down and so far so good. She is quite happy to go back on Monday and already seems so much older than a few short days ago.
If I am honest, I was more than ready to give her a little kiss and a gentle push towards the school gate.
But…
It’s just that…
When I saw my Preppy in that huge school dress with her shiny new shoes, I thought that my heart would shatter in a million different directions. I waited. I gulped down air. But it didn’t. In fact, it swelled with pride a little at the sight of her beaming face.
The last few weeks of summer holidays have been long. Whilst I have loved the slow mornings, by lunchtime I am usually exhausted. It’s hard being the camp leader everyday.
The demand for snacks and actual nutritious meals that were regularly met with disdain was constant and tiring. The need to provide stimulating entertainment without breaking the bank was tough day after day after day. Sadly, it was so easy to allow screen time to steadily rise up if it gave me some peace between the wrestling parties and a chance to exhale and get other jobs done.
But we made it. The children are now actively engaged in structured learning and positive social interaction with their peers. Better than Minecraft and a grumpy Mum squawking at the kids to come outside and play.
So here is what I have learnt in those 2 short days of being a school mum.
- They say the days are long, but the years are short… Believe me. They are NOT talking about school days. The time between drop off and pick up is gone in an absolute blink of an eye.
- You can have lunch WHENEVER YOU DAMN WELL WANT! And you can eat it all by yourself, in one sitting.
- If you are working from home, you can actually participate in a video conference call without having to feed out sweet bribes and a movie to keep your child parked in the next room.
- Mornings are absolutely NUTS. It is a shock after the slow ebb of the summer holidays. But once you have waved them off, the silence is incredible.
- For a few short moments, the house becomes clean(ish).
- Sorting washing is actually marginally OK when you can listen to Podcasts without worrying about adult language.
- You can actually make it to the shops and spend your Christmas gift vouchers, without someone whining for LOL’s or treats.
- Finally you can book appointments for yourself that you have been putting off for, say, 8 odd years.
- Everything seems possible. Lists have been drawn of all the things I need to get done in the next little while that I have been meaning to do for years. Sort bookshelves, cull the clothes and toys, sort the kids keepsakes in to albums and boxes, sort out family photo files, follow up financial blah blah stuff, really get my teeth in to more writing…
Of course, with this heady taste of freedom, comes a sense of disconnect and confusion.
What exactly am I now? Who am I becoming? What exactly is in this next phase?
And of course…what is this dull ache I am feeling? What exactly is she doing right now? Will she remember to use the loo during breaks? What if her new sandals pinch and she gets blisters? What if someone is mean to her? What if she is the one to announce someone or something is poopy or sh*t or stupid on Day 1? What is she gets growled at and lies on the floor and cries? Or decides she hates school and decides to up and go?
I just need to remember that this is her time. It is her chance to shine. I need to give her enough rope to make some mistakes and pick herself back up. Hopefully, what we have taught her is enough to navigate the school yard. Maybe she will make some lovely friends (with some even lovelier Mums) and school will be an exciting place for her.
Let’s just hope that I have the patience to make it through the next few weeks of the inevitable tears and tantrums as exhaustion sets in. Hey Ho…only 13 years (minimum) left to ride this roller coaster. Better buckle myself in.
If you’re desperately searching for any other tips on the transition to big school, check out What They Don’t Tell You.
