He had to be peeled off me, sobbing, shouting he wanted to go home. I had to walk away and leave him with TOTAL STRANGERS. I couldn’t look back or the sight of his tear streaked face would have made me grab him and run away.
School Stationery Image via Shutterstock
I knew one of the two women in the room was Mrs H – his soon to be class teacher, and one was an as yet unnamed teaching assistant – but I didn’t know which was which.
I couldn’t even find my way from the classroom, through the maze of corridors and to the outside without help.
Then I stood in the rain thinking how alien this felt. To leave my baby crying in the arms of people I couldn’t even name, in a room I would struggle to get back to unaided.
But you know. He is my third. I have been here before and I know both he and I will survive, so I wandered through the drizzle to a nearby coffee shop where I watched the clock stutter slowly through the 90 minutes before I could go back to him.
In all honesty there seems to have been a lack of the personal touch this time around. With my older two the class teacher made a home visit before ‘settling in’ day. I thought this was to make the kids feel more comfortable, but I see today that it was equally to make me feel more comfortable too. To avoid the feeling of leaving your precious cargo in unknown hands.
I know I left him in the hands of qualified and no doubt lovely teachers, I knew he was safe, but it still felt totally bizarre to just be expected to trust them with barely a word passed between us.
My mood, as I sat waiting with my hot drink, was a little self indulgently miserable in all honestly, not helped by the replacement of yesterday’s heat wave with wind whipped drizzle and dark skies.
After several years the hour and a half was up and I wandered back to join the other anxious parents waiting for their small faces to reappear.
Then there he was, clutching a rabbit head fashioned from a paper plate and a little rectangle of paper with his teachers photo and their names and a message about how they looked forward to seeing him in September. And most importantly a big grin on his face. He was happy. He had fun. He liked it. He chattered away about who he played with and what they did.
Phew. It is all going to be just fine!
Love Miss Cisco XXX
Yay! Glad he had a good day! We still get home visits here, weirdly – maybe it’s a school thing?
jo recently posted…A Healthy Me – June
Yeah, must vary from school to school then – my older two went to a different school to Syd as we have moved since it was their turn to start! X
Aww! It’s so hard isn’t it….It sounds like he had a lovely time! Good luck for September x
Kim Carberry recently posted…A Lightbulb Moment….
Oh I feel your pain. I think I have only just recovered from A going to school last year. IT does get easier but this ‘time’ that everyone kept saying I would have so much have, disappears very quickly. I hope you get through it with a smile xx
Nikki Thomas recently posted…A Real Driving Experience with Young Driver
Even third time around, it’s not easy. Must have been a big relief that he enjoyed it so much. The way schools communicate seems to vary hugely. My younger son’s new secondary has been amazing – a teacher has visited him at school, he’s had an induction day with another next week and we’ve met his tutor. My eldest’s secondary was nothing like this – we just put him on the bus at age 11 and hoped it would all be OK.
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…A quiet week?
oh yes, I found it difficult 5th time around, it’s never easy. You do get used to it though and the kids love it..well, most of them do. I’m so glad he came out with a smile, that’s a good sign 🙂
Anne recently posted…Kids in the Kitchen – Chicken Wraps
My oldest started school last year, and my youngest will follow the September after next. Somehow, I think it’ll be more difficult with her. I’m glad your day turned out ok in the end though – it’s never easy!
Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com recently posted…WIN Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief by Gill Lewis
I often think that we have a harder time than they do! I am sure that he will be fine. Mini did find it harder than Maxi.
Jen recently posted…How do you control and monitor Internet usage?
When I take my son to Uni in September and leave him there I will go through the same feelings as I felt when I left him at the school door at the age of 4.I am gad your son had fun in the end!
Mellissa Williams recently posted…Top Things To Do In San Francisco
Aww, it’s so hard for us parents when they have their first day at school! Mine was fine going in – I was a wreck!
Michelle recently posted…Asian Salmon
Thank God he had such a wonderful 90 mins. He will enjoy the holidays now as will you, with that worry taken off. Aaron started in September and we had no day like that so I spent the whole holidays fretting xxx
liska @NewMumOnline recently posted…Demand for seaweed surges as 2 in 3 UK women revealed to have low iodine levels
Aw yay thank goodness he enjoyed it in the end! I hope he loves it come September 🙂 x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Isle of Light Candles: Fresh Linen
It’s always a worry isn’t it? I think it usually turns out ok in the end and he clearly enjoyed himself.
Erica Price recently posted…Spaced Out Food
Ahh what a lovely ending. I had the same with my boy, he’s had two school sessions over the last couple of weeks, one for one hour on and one for two. He was surprisingly fine and I think he handled it a lot better than me! 🙂 xx
Glad he had a good time. Trying not to think too far ahead about mine starting school! Scares me…
Ryan Costello recently posted…Summertime Family Tradition
I am glad he had a good time, it sounds as though he is fitting in just fine x
Rachel recently posted…Keeping Your Cool
Glad he had a fabulous time – Eliza had her settling in period last week too and is so excited, even though she is in that school already in Nursery
Kara recently posted…Boon Glo Night Light
Pickle starts school in January and I am dreading it. He is just about ok with playgroup but begs me to stay 🙁 Kaz x
Ickle Pickle recently posted…Healthy Alternatives to Sweets and Crisps
Ah bless. I was almost upset reading this, until I knew he was fine hehe! I hated doing this and leaving my twin boys, they’d cry and scream…. it broke my heart. Wish I didn;t have to do it! Glad your boys had a great time x
Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours recently posted…Stroppy Mummy
Aww…it’s so hard isn’t it? I have three too and my youngest will go next year and I have a feeling it could be the hardest of all. I’m so pleased he had a lovely time though….good luck for September.
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