Hans & Natalie, just minutes b4 setting off for school
I always read newspaper articles with amazement on how parents get excited (or stressed) over their children's first day of school... until it's my turn. ^^
I'm used to sleeping late most nights (anytime from 12 midnite, to 3am) & wakes up abt 8am (only for lately, since it's school holiday for Hans, who was in K2 last year).
On Sunday night, I actually made the effort to sleep at 10pm, so that I can be up at 6:30am, only to wake up (to my dismay) to howling winds & rain :( ... what a day to start the 1st day of school!
It's really a huge milestone for us, & the kids. Hans will be starting Primary 1, and stepping into a new level of independence. My husband had taken leave to bring him to school for the 1st 3 days. While I will be taking Natalie (who's beginning Nursery) to school.
I'm happy that both kids start school around the same time (8am for Hans, & 8:15 for Natalie), but the downside is, I can't be there for BOTH kids at the same time.
The night before, I lift them up to God in prayer. That their 1st day at school, will be an enjoyable experience with a positive vibe to it. No fear, no confusion. I'm especially worried for Natalie, who was never easy to warm up to strangers (& even to many ppl we are familiar with!) ... she's also quite a feisty character who cant be bribed nor appeased easily when provoked.
In Natalie's church kindergarten (or any other preschools I suppose), parents are only allowed to accompany their kids (as in hang around the classroom) for the 1st 3 days. After which, we're to completely release them to the teachers. Hands off!
I was the only parent who actually accompanied her child into the class, sat with the rest of the them & joined in every activities going on. Well, that's because Natalie kept clutching on to my hands for dear life, knitted her eyebrows with displeasure at every adult (aka Teachers) who dared to come near her, & the cheek to talk to her! She replied "No, I don't want!" to every question/invitation thrown her way. (Amazingly, ALL the other kids were OK! Well, I found out the next day, many of them were already there from the pre-nursery class the previous year, hehe...)
'Natalie, pls sit down... Natalie, pls put your bag there...water bottle there...join the sing & dance....' "No, I don't want!" was her determined reply, while pushing her little body back to me, so that we can put up a more convincing united front.
I was beginning to be quite stressed at her continued "perseverance" & start to imagine in my mind, what the teacher may say to me at the end of the session.
"Mrs Jubilee, I think Natalie is not ready for preschool... you may want to consider letting her start school half a year later?" OH NO!!!
Thankfully, that didn't happen...hehe... the teachers were gracious to me (& her ^^) assuring me it's ok for me to be there to lend my support just for today. So I stayed, & Natalie actually began to loosen up, & enjoyed her 1st day at school, declaring it as fun & enjoyable, & that she'd love to go back the next day. *phew* (I didn't know 2 hours inside the classroom can be so draining)
Today (the 2nd day), the principle already briefed the parents, that we can only stay for 1 hour, & to back off after that, so that the teachers can learn how to handle our kids & for the kids to settle down faster in their new environment.
Minutes into the 1st sing & dance session, Natalie begins to show her displeasure at everyone for singing & dancing when SHE don't feel like it. She wanted to be carried. I carried her. Teachers moved into action. "It's better that we handle her from here onwards *smile*." I nodded, passed her to the teacher, knowing that I'm given the "Please leave the room" sign. I turned around for a quick glance at her, not expecting our goodbye to be like this. She was wailing loudly with arms & legs flailing wildly, with the most heart wrenching (being abandoned) expression on her little face.
I waited outside the music room, chatting with another parent & the principle who came by to chat. She took a peek. Natalie was sobbing quietly, sitting on the teacher's lap. Minutes later, after the sing & dance session is over, the kids were lined up (like a train) for their toilet break.
I hid (initiatively) behind a pillar, & saw Natalie at the front of the line, with the teacher by her side. Her eyebrows still furrowed, looking to the left & right for any trace of Mommy. As they made their way to the toilet, the 2 teachers turned to look at me with a "thumbs-up" sign. All's well! ;)
The principle then assured me & the other parent, that our kids r settling down well, & we should leave now. That was when I tasted my first sign of "freedom"! haha...
Went for breakfast at nearby coffee shop, familiarize myself with the surrounding area, making a mental note which pretty potted plant to buy on the way home.
One hour passed by quickly enough, & I went back to the kindergarten. Saw some parents sneaking a peek at the playground at the back, where the kids were. After a while, I spotted Natalie, playing & taking her turn at the slide.
At 10:15 am sharp (1st 2 days of school is only for 2 hours, and will be 3 hours from tomorrow onwards), the doors were opened, & once she saw me, greeted my happily & announced proudly that she played at the playground. Wow! What a success, & how fast she settled down after I left ^^
Today's "battle" is won swiftly & smoothly... & I know that it'll get better with time. But I'll have to gear myself for tomorrow morning, where the parents must say goodbye at the door, & strictly not allowed into the assembly area anymore. But I'm assured, knowing that the teachers were able to handle her well, & that she's also able to settle down quickly enough.
Thank God once again for faithfully "tiding" us over the "tumultuous" 1st few days of school. :)
Now, I gotta start planning how to spend my "free" hours wisely.
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