This is a memory post. One for me, not one which will interest anyone reading it really. My blog tends to be a mix of real life events, play activities, reviews and photographs. 95% of it is written with the audience in mind, sometimes there comes a post where it is so I can remember something. This is one of those times.
Tuesday
I took The Boy into school at our allocated time, and we were accompanied in by the headteacher who was coming to check on the new pupils. I didn't mind her walking in with me as she's actually a parent from my school, so have spoken a few times with her. I handed The Boy over to his new teacher who showed him his peg, hung up his P.E. kit, book bag and told him where to put his lunch bag. Apparently I didn't need to send a second bottle of water in for him to keep in the classroom. We went into the classroom, I showed him where the toilet was and he asked the teacher if she'd like to play dominoes with him. Kissing him and walking away broke my heart, and I was ready for my little self-indulgent weep when I found the headteacher next to me again. While I understand that she was trying to reassure me, I was a bit miffed that I was robbed of my tears. This was a big moment for both of us.
It was only when I got home and the sun broke through the mist, that I realised I'd forgotten to give him a hat. I couldn't nip one in for him as I didn't want to disturb him.
When I picked him up at 3.20pm, he was happy to see me and I noted the big difference between nursery staff who were happy to share what he'd done that day and how much he ate, a teacher doesn't seem to do that. As a teacher myself I get that, but as a parent on the first day, I'd have appreciated the opportunity to find out about my precious bundle and whether he'd been anxious or not. A lesson learnt for my own professional practise.
Over the course of the three hours following picking him up, I managed to ascertain that he'd; played tag with the teacher on the field (best bit of the day), painted a rainbow house, listened to Winnie the Witch, eaten most of his lunch (no yoghurt or mini roll but did eat his wrap, crisps & fruit which is good considering the dinner hall was a distraction), played dominoes, blew his nose himself, asked to go to the loo and had milk, banana and apple for snack. He couldn't remember any children's names, which is what he said about nursery too.
A successful first day then!
Wednesday
Nana took and picked up The Boy today, a difficult step for me, but needs must!
The Boy had a terrible night, and woke up with a horrendous hacking cough that sounded like whooping cough. His nose was both blocked and streaming, and it was the type of grottiness that would have seen him stay home from nursery, but not something that I could do to him on only his second day of school. A hearty dose of Calpol and he was in the hands of Nana to take to school.
After I'd staggered home from school, I had time to give him a cuddle before I whacked some pasta on for him to eat dinner. This earlier dinnertime is something that's really tricky to adjust to when I'm working until 15 minutes before he needs to eat. Time to stock up on some Little Dish meals for my working days until I can batch cook him something that can be reheated easily.
Thursday
Another Nana day, and I am finding it particularly difficult to not be the one to pick him up at the end of the school day. To not be the one who sees that little face, carries the lunchbag with a few scraps left in it or the bookbag with the latest painting, not hold his sticky little hand, catch his stumbles on the 500 yard walk home. It's tough. Especially as this week is hard work in school and I'm not getting home until gone 5pm.
I came in exhausted and found a little boy with huge, dark, purple shadows under his eyes, pale and physically shattered. One thing that I am noticing is that The Boy is wolfing down his dinner, portions that he would struggle with before. It astounds me because he's not that much more active than with me, but it must be the constant stimulation and ongoing chatter.
Today I've established that his favourite part of the day was playing on the field. I knew this school was the right choice; nestled away in the corner of our town, no through road, rolling banks on a large field, it's the perfect surburban school. He also came home with two more paintings; the bow from yesterday, and a fabulous painting. It was clearly of something but I couldn't quite work it out at first, until he told me it was a xylophone. I was astounded.
Friday
The Boy was absolutely shattered today walking to school and I expected tears, but luckily he was still very excited to be going. It was the first day that I'd taken him since his starting day and mum hadn't explained what they did in the morning first thing, so luckily the teacher saw me hovering as she walked around to the classroom at 8.55 a.m. He tottered in quite happily with her, but the final turn and wave before he went into the building was a real heart-wrencher.
I managed to get all the washing done (but not dry because of the weather) during the day, and one or two blog-posts. I am trying to get into a new routine so that our weekends are free for playing together.
After school, The Boy and I played together in the garden quite happily and he chatted about one or two other things that he'd done in school. He's not very forthcoming in his information as he can never remember what he's done, or so he says. I nipped in to get a drink for us and I heard a huge wail; he had fallen backwards off the swing and nearly winded himself. He has never fallen off his swing before, so it shows how tired he is. Cuddles, chocolate and Peppa helped sort him out. It just shows how desperately tired he is from school.
I loved reading this as I've thought about you both several times this week. I'm impressed you managed to get that much information out of him, I don't think I got much more from Leo over the whole year!
I often wonder about the difference between Leo and the Boy's schooling as they are so close in age and possibly similar in some ways. I wonder what Leo would make of English school – glad he has no idea it exists really!
Sounds like he's getting on just fine and I'm sure he will adjust to the tiredness soon, bet you're looking forward to half term already!
Thanks lovely, it's been a really tumultuous time over the past few weeks. He's gone in easily and without stress, although this morning he sobbed at home that he didn't want to go and wanted to stay home with me. Then I missed the last turn and wave before he went into the classroom, because I was chatting to another mum. I feel dreadful and hope it hasn't stayed with him as it has with me.
I think Leo's schooling is probably more formal than The Boy's, infant schools have changed a lot in the last few years as it is way less formal than it used to be; all about learning through play and experiential learning.
Wow! Do they go straight in on full days? No wonder he's shattered. My youngest started last September and he had half days for the first 3 weeks or so and was still knackered.
At our school they stick a big sticker on the new ones' jumpers saying something they've done that day, or "ask me about…" which is a great way to get round the difficulty of speaking to each parent individually.
Neither of my boys volunteer much info- I've found that if I force myself not to ask anything at all they're more likely to tell me something genuinely interesting about what's happened that day!
At least you're past that first day trauma. Hope you both settle into the new routines and that half term comes round quickly!
He did in his school, which I did have issues with because I think it's too big a move in one go. I'd have preferred him to go in for mornings and lunchtimes only for the first week, but hey-ho. I'd also have preferred him to start in January but didn't have the choice.
The sticker idea is a brilliant idea, I will definitely remember that for my own teaching if I ever make it down to the infants as I'd like to.
I am counting down the days until half term, don't worry! Thanks for your comment.
I really enjoyed reading this. I have been thinking of you this week. And funny you say about getting a new routine because I did wonder how you would feel suddenly not having him there to do stuff with. Hope you get settled so you can enjoy your weekends. You must be really proud of him, but be proud of yourself too, all you did to get him to this place xxx
Thank you so much for this comment, I think you've really understood how I've been struggling. I do miss him dreadfully, and I miss my little friend and shadow. The "Mummy, can you do this please?", "Mummy?! Where are you?", "Mummy, can we play x, y or z?", even the "Mummy, I've done a poo!" I've missed just going in the car to a park or popping to Pizza Hut or going shopping. It honestly feels like I've lost an invisible appendage that helps me function and completes me. I count down the minutes until he's home, but I'm training myself not to look at the clock so often now and to do tidying and work.
I am proud of him, so proud of the little boy that he has become.