When your baby is 4 days old, you adore them despite the fact they have been permanently attached to your aching boobs….
When your baby is 4 weeks old, you hope with all your might that they will magically find their way into some kind of routine of sleep like all the books tell you…..
When your baby is 4 months old, you marvel at them beginning to play as they become interested in the world wider than your boobs and their play mat… when will they begin to sit up / when should i start feeding them solids?
Fast forward a few years….
When your baby has just turned 4 years old, you realise that, whether you like it or not (in the UK) they will be starting BIG SCHOOL….
I am not very good at using text speak but I greet this thought with a great big OMG – surely my first born, my tiny little Bea isn’t ready for this?
Sure she is getting more confident and is decidedly chatty with friends and family. Sure she has excelled with her swimming and gymnastics that she loves. Sure she can actually colour in and keep within the lines, she can actually even count fairly well and is pretty good with her letters too but is she ready?
hmmm the answer my friend appears to be yes……..
Am i ready? I know that one… a big fat NO.
I cried my eyes out as she left the magnificent Silver Star nursery, it was the place that we both grew up – her as a perfectly normal little girl would do, making friends / losing friends / learning and laughing. Me as mum who realised that her child needed educating as well as playing with and realising that it was good to let others help me do that and not want to do it all myself! It changed us both for the better thats for sure.
Since term broke up and the inductions at school were done I have seen this glorious summer holiday as a bit of a last hurrah. We have spent a lot of time at the beach, we have eaten far too many ice creams and have generally just had a load of fun together and with our friends. Its like I am a mum on a mission before the repetition of the school run begins.
Sitting in the school hall, listening to the headmaster talk about the beginning of this important journey our children were beginning, clutching the book bag and second hand uniform I had just bought, I felt so excited but also so nervous for Bea and I know I am not the first mum to have these feelings!
The shoes are bought from the shop, the name tags have been ordered for the uniform which is played with very often (morning mummy, i am off to school today!) School is the start of such a life lesson – yes you learn your R’s but you also learn such important life lessons and in Jersey in particular you may also make life long friends (or enemies!) and maybe even meet your future husband or wife (!) at school as we all grow and live so close together.
For me this isn’t just the start of school, it is more like her second life is starting – and it is a life that is going to become more and more independent from us as parents. I have been so privileged to have been able to stay at home and bring Bea this far on her little journey of life and we have (mostly!) enjoyed it as a brilliant little team living life to the full.
As I settle her into her gorgeous colourful classroom in a few weeks time, it will be the end of my time having her mainly to myself. I know we will both be nervous and I am thankful that we are so lucky here in Jersey with fabulous Primary education to guide both parent and child through the years ahead.
So the countdown is on as we revel in this gorgeous weather my mind is firmly set on the change of pace ahead. Whether I manage to make it back to my car before the tears start, who knows. Thank goodness I still have little Freya to keep me on my toes at home; I just don’t think I am ready for big school!
3 thoughts on “I’m just not ready….Mum on the Rock”
Kat - Creative Playhouse and My-ology
(August 15, 2012 - 1:43 pm)Im already dreading the day Jake goes to school…. thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, its an interesting topic to ponder (and cry about!!)
Anonymous
(August 16, 2012 - 8:17 pm)You have made me cry Sarah and now I am really not letting P grow up and go to nursery – sx
ramblingrosie
(August 29, 2012 - 11:31 am)Good luck with it! My Bea is already at school (going into year 2), but my 2nd is starting school this September and my 3rd is starting preschool too for 10 hours a week. Not sure what I will do with myself with only the baby at home!
Rosie, x
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