We did it and survived.
Immy started kindy.
I cried. She was just fine.
Despite my self doubt (if only we could lose the mummy guilt!) and a few moments when I wondered if she would actually go through with it – in the lead up to the big day most of her issues seemed to revolve around the idea of a uniform, “But I want to go to a school where I can wear a pink dress and glass slippers, not these dumb brown sandals. I won’t wear them!” – she sailed forth through the classroom doors brimming with such self confidence that even the teacher remarked on it as we arrived.
And she loved it. And doesn’t want to have to wait five days to go back again!
And me. Well, I cried. Silent tears in the car on the way there. Glassy eyes as the teacher talked to the parents briefly about how hard it can be on us Mums (and Dads) as she farewelled us sans children. Sunglasses on as I made my way out of the classroom. And torrents of ugly tears on the drive home. I could blame it on the pregnancy hormones. Or a restless night filled with worry and little sleep. But really the only way I can even partially describe the moment for me is this – this small person has been my whole life for the past four years. And now there will be all of this time and space without her. And of course the time will be filled with other things, and before we know it, a new bub. But those moments will still be without HER. She will be learning new things, her days filled with new experiences and new friends. Without me.
It’s going to take a little getting used to.
But at least I have the next five days. Even if they are filled with a new game that just this afternoon we have already played for (what seems like) hours.
“Come on Mum, let’s play schools.”
Did your child face a milestone as they headed off to school this week? How did you (and they) cope?
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