The school bags are packed, Clothes are labelled ( new stationery is waiting near the front door waiting to be loaded in the boot-one set of different things for each child. It feels like I’m preparing to load up my car as we do for a holiday. Ensure everything is packed. Double, triple and quadruple check that all is order. It isnt – lunches aren’t made, and there are just 1 or 2 items which are not checked. And thats ok.
On your marks…
As I’m preparing for this journey i realize its not just about the first day of school – its a journey leading towards the entire year. Ready, set, GO!!!! A marathon till the finish line. A marathon which ends only in December. Only when your feet touch the beach sand (I’m from Jhb – no beach here), and you have sea salt coating your hair. Oh a holiday-
Back to now, back to school, back to life, back to taxi rounds,waking up early,homework. The unpaid millionaire gets ready for her busy time. On your marks….
Did I mention the waking up early- yes this is an early morning trip- waking up at extraordinarily early hours. 6am compare to the usual 10am. Heres to a happy and prosperous few weeks ahead. The kids have also been sleeping late every night for the past 6 weeks, and waking up really early.
Putting my kids to bed tonight, i had a heart to heart chat with each of them regarding theirs feelings and fears regarding going to school tomorrow. The daughter, aged 6, who is starting grade 1 this year (sob)- had the following fears:
MY 6year old DAUGHTER’S PRE GRADE 1 CONCERNS:
- Making friends ( but she knows she will make friends)
- What will she call the teacher.
- If she forgets the teachers name will I write it down for her on a paper.
- The teacher shouting at her
- If the teacher hits her.
My eldest son, 7 years old(yes I had them close together) has concerns mainly about readjusting to the social environment.
MY 7 year old SONS PRE GRADE 2 CONCERNS:
- Making friends.
- Making new friends(coz the class lists change)
- Finding friends with the same interests as him
- He feels that he is walking behind whilst everyone else is already behind the window (a metaphor from a 7 year old that i understand to mean that he feels that he is not always present in the moment, and feels like hes lagging behind).
- That his mum (thats me)will now start shouting and nagging again, and rushing them to get done [me????? do a thing like that?? never!! ]
I find it very interesting (and amusing)to note the differences between my son and daughters pre grade 1 concerns. My sons concerns before grade 1 was:
- Bullies
- Waking up late
- Whether he’ll be able to talk sport with the other kids
- Not having friends
- Not knowing what to do
- If theres going to be a teacher like Mrs Trunchbull from Roald Dhall’s book “Matilda”
- If he has a question can he ask the teacher to call me
- What if the teacher kicks him out class if he doesnt know something
- What if the school shoes are not actually brown, and everyone else is wearing black
- What if in high school the shoes are black
- What if everyone laughs at and teases him if he cries
- What will the teachers say. What will happen at school.
- What if he makes friends that are not his race or religion, and makes him do things against his religion
- He wanted to look like everyone else (ie uniform wise)
I wonder where my son gets his worry-wart, indepth characteristic from. It must be passed on genetically from many generations ago. I certainly dont possess that gene-I’m cool as a cucumber. (yeah)
Having said that (cool-ly) i will really miss the time spent with my kids during the holiday, doing alot of nothing, a little bit of outings, and virtually no nagging. Pyjama days, movie days, and no-shower days. Ice cream almost every afternoon, and occasionally for breakfast too. Eating out, lounging in the park or garden. I will miss that. Time to schedule that waxing appointment. Hope the beautician hasn’t forgot me already…
To all the mums, (and caregivers) getting ready for school …I’m sending you a sprinkle of awesome fairy dust. You don’t need a lot, you already have most of your own. Sometimes you just forget where you kept it. May the 2016 school year be a productively efficient one for you, a learning and fun one for your kids, and a speedy one for the teachers.
tamingthetantrum 