My baby starts school this week and I will not to cry.
Who am I kidding? I will be balling my eyes out, but hopefully, not within her line of sight or earshot.
We’ve been reading this book at home the last few weeks. My very own “Amelia Bedelia” is excited.
When my eldest child started school, I held it together long enough to get into the car and be a few metres up the road before the tears broke free.
But it was okay.
I still had a child at home with me. Someone to keep me company. Someone to shadow me and make me feel needed. Wanted.
The start of school is an exciting new chapter in every child’s life. It is a new beginning. They have held on their mother’s skirt for 5 years and grown into amazing little people. They are now stepping into a new adventure. An independent adventure with new friends and new teachers and new activities and tasks.
I mustn’t feel left out.
I mustn’t feel left behind.
I mustn’t feel un-needed.
But I do. I’m not yet ready to let go.
For 5 years I have been “the” person in my little girls life. Sure, she has had playgroup and pre-school and play dates, but this is different. She’s going to be moving forward and I’ll be left waiting in the wings. Waiting for 2:40 each afternoon, when I go and collect my children and to hear all about their day.
Here’s to the new chapter in our lives.
I am now a mum of school aged children and since I can’t stop time, perhaps it’s time I began embracing this new freedom?
Who am I kidding? I will be balling my eyes out, but hopefully, not within her line of sight or earshot.
We’ve been reading this book at home the last few weeks. My very own “Amelia Bedelia” is excited.
When my eldest child started school, I held it together long enough to get into the car and be a few metres up the road before the tears broke free.
But it was okay.
I still had a child at home with me. Someone to keep me company. Someone to shadow me and make me feel needed. Wanted.
The start of school is an exciting new chapter in every child’s life. It is a new beginning. They have held on their mother’s skirt for 5 years and grown into amazing little people. They are now stepping into a new adventure. An independent adventure with new friends and new teachers and new activities and tasks.
I mustn’t feel left out.
I mustn’t feel left behind.
I mustn’t feel un-needed.
But I do. I’m not yet ready to let go.
For 5 years I have been “the” person in my little girls life. Sure, she has had playgroup and pre-school and play dates, but this is different. She’s going to be moving forward and I’ll be left waiting in the wings. Waiting for 2:40 each afternoon, when I go and collect my children and to hear all about their day.
Here’s to the new chapter in our lives.
I am now a mum of school aged children and since I can’t stop time, perhaps it’s time I began embracing this new freedom?
Do you remember the day you became a parent of school age children? Was it as hard as I'm imagining it will be?
Linking up with IBOT
I was okay on Eme's first day. She seemed so independent! She instantly found her place in line, and told me I could leave. Mind you, I bawled like a baby the last time I drove away from her daycare. I hope Milly has a fabulous first day...and I hope you do too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa. Might even start having lunches in town!
DeleteMy oldest started grade 2 today, and my youngest offically starts kindy tomorrow. They had a day last week for the littlies to get comfortable. There is a funny feeling, that you can never go back (not that you can anyway) once they start school!
ReplyDeleteYes, that “funny feeling” that you can’t go back.
DeleteI guess we’ll have a lot more sewing time, right?
I wish you all the best as you get through this painful time.
ReplyDeletei wish you all the best Anorina and also hope Amelia has a wonderful time at school.xx
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!! A new chapter in your life. I hope that she has a wonderful first day at school and you can quietly drown those tears in some Max Breener!
ReplyDeleteStrangely I can remember clearly my oldest son starting school but not my youngest! Embrace the freedom you have between drop off and pick up, soon you'll be thinking 'Oh no, its nearly time to pick them up already?'!
ReplyDeleteAwwwww... I don't have kids so I can't commiserate, but I send hugs your way! :)
ReplyDeleteLove amelia bedelia - wish we had that book back when we started school.
ReplyDeleteIt is a new phase but one that brings exciting and good things into your life too - Hugs for now while it is still painful.
My second one was my highly spirited child who needed action all the time. when i was on my own that first day i almost skipped down the street. I love her dearly, but we both needed her to start full time school. I love that we still have 5 hours each day before bedtime - perfect balance for us.
I still have one at home - he doesn't start until 2015 but think I will feel it simply because he is the baby and my last. Was reading about Tina Gray's nerves today as she sends her 4th off to high school! Think I'll be a mess all over again when that period starts!! Amelia will still need you - in a million different ways, and although she's going off to school physically on her own, as you know from your son, school is a joint adventure/rollercoaster :) Hold on!! xxx
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest started school I felt very lost. It took about 6 months to go away. I also wasted a lot of time as there was not 11.45 kinder pick-up deadlines. I had until 3.20. Next Monday, my baby starts secondary school. It doesn't seem that long ago he was in Prep.
ReplyDeleteTry and think of all the sewing time :) And child free coffees with friends - very nice. Hope it all goes really great for you both!
ReplyDeleteI have only one out of four children starting school today. I both dread and look forward to the day when I drop them off and come home to an empty quiet house.
ReplyDeleteoh this book looks perfect for your daughter.. and many other children out there!!
ReplyDeleteHope her week goes ok! xxx
Yes Anorina it is hard, but the 'unwantedness' doesn't last for long. You can be up at school helping with reading, or art, or..... If you are anything like I was, there were tears for a couple of days and then I got into more sewing. I now have to set an alarm on my phone so I don't get too engrossed in my sewing (coffee, shopping oh and work) to remember to pick them up.
ReplyDeleteDebra
My baby starts kindy on Thursday so I totally understand how you are feeling. I'm not ready for her to go but she is ready. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! I have three at school now and only one more year with my 'baby'. My children have always been fine starting school - it's me that gets all emotional!! Despite having three school aged children, I still don't have enough time to get everything done!
ReplyDeleteOh I here you... I dropped my middle child off at Prep this morning. It was hard seeing her in her too big uniform sitting on the mat eating her fruit break...
ReplyDeleteBut... thankfully I have a spare child and get to have a year or so with my BabyCool before he heads of to school. Phew! That was good planning! {Tongue in cheek}.
This is such a cute post.. I do hope you find your new groove.
B from #teamIBOT
I know how you feel. When our oldest whent to kindergarten I still had one home. We read the same book it helped a lot. When our youngest went to kindergarten I felt like I would be lonely and miss them too much. But my mother who had 5, helped a lot. She told me that this indeed was a new chapter in my life and I could either be miserable thus making others miserable, or find ways to make life wonderful in a different way thus making others in the household feel wonderful aobut the changes happening. I chose the later. I learned how to paint on fabric, makeing sweatshirts, etc. I learned how to do Wilton cake decorating, so fun. I started sewing for the house, I was able to spend more time over lunch with friends, and the list goes on. I found that it is all attitude and a mind set. We will always remeber those times, but they shouldnt define our life. I loved watching our children grow into wonderful lovely young people that we could be proud of. Good luck on finding what you want to do.
ReplyDeleteNot so much "hard", but "different". This year, my youngest of four children will be off to Kindergarten two days a week. She also goes to creche when I'm working two days a week - this leaves one day a week with her :( BUT - it will be the first time in 14 years that I will have two whole days to myself with no children at home! Crazy stuff! A new normal....
ReplyDeleteI've still got one at home and when she goes I know I will be a mess. I just love having my little people around and its so quiet without them.
ReplyDeleteHope she went ok :)