Wednesday 18 January 2012

First day of big school

My alarm was set for 5:45 - a full half hour earlier than usual. I woke up, showered and went downstairs to fix lunches, and then to wake up our little grade one Princess. All the tears and uneasiness of the previous days were gone - she was so excited! What a happy morning.

Of course, things went downwards just after we got to the school and found out that she was not in class with a single one of her group of 6 friends from the year before. And that her two besties were in class together. In fact, the only girl in her class from the previous year is one she had a particular love/hate relationship going. Luckily Lilly, the twin sister of one of her boy buds and a friend from another class last year is in the same class. Then her one bestie said that she should not worry, they can play together during break. So that was sorted.

During assembly the headmaster named all the grade 1 kids that had their birthdays during the holiday - hers was nice and as big as the others on the screen and she saw it there, but he read right over hers not mentioning her. The tears started welling in her eyes and she said that she does not feel welcome in this place at all and wanted to go home. With luck we then moved to their classes and after seeing her teacher she piped up happily until it was time for mommy to leave. Huge big tears. Actually the only ones in her class. My heart broke. But her teacher came over, gave her a big hug, asked me to take a picture and her to wipe her tears as we can not have a pic with tears, and problem solved. A smile, and I could go.

When I picked her up this afternoon it was all smiles - excited and happy with her pretty teacher. I was so relieved. Actually I should have known that she would bounce back, but we moms worry, don't we? When we walked into aftercare (the idea was to meet the teachers, go back to the office with me and then to aftercare tomorrow) she saw two of her besties and some other friends and the playing started immediately. I was immediately dismissed back to the office and she stayed.

All in all, a good day, after all.
(BTW Mommy was all smiles at school, walked in at the office to tell them about the morning and shamelessly started bawling her eyes out)

14 comments:

  1. So glad she had a great first day, despite a couple of little bumps. Sounds like she has a very sweet teacher, too, which I know can make a big difference.

    Glad you held it together in front of Miss A, too! :)

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    1. I can't see the comment thing so I tried to "reply" instead.

      Oh R, my heart BROKE at the thought of the principal skipping her and of her being all alone in the class. The teacher is GORGEOUS and KIND - I think she will be good though.

      Hope today was easier?

      And big hugs to you too - I would have also bawled!

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  2. Hope she has many more good days. Sorry it's so tough that her besties are not in her class. I know how tough that is!!!

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  3. How exciting! Caitlyn's first day will of Year 1 will be on the 22nd of Feb and she's rather excited, although I think we might have a few tears...

    Your daughter looks so grown up!

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  4. I'm glad to hear it went well even with the few hiccups. She looks lovely in her little uniform :)

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    1. Thanks @fiona - I think the green suits her

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  5. So happy for the both of you, that everything went by so good.

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  6. Ai. They grow up so fast. Nostalgia already, and they're still so young!

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  7. She looks so cute in her uniform. I'm glad she had a good day despite a few tears (which are to be expected aren't they).

    Glad you survived too :)

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  8. Oh my goodness, I think the Mommy's are the bravest out of everyone. I had a lump in my throat reading about your first day, and glad there were smiles at the end. She looks so precious in her school uniform.

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  9. BIG milestone!
    Love the photos, especially the last one! She looks like a big girl now...
    Of course we shed a tear! :D

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  10. I anmso glad that in the end she had a good day. Rough start though :(

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  11. oh my goodness! She looks SO grown up here! I'm so glad her first day went well!

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  12. Awww...my heart broke when I read about the Principal not reading out her name. So glad things went OK, despite the hiccups. And yes lady, I cried when Child 1 went to school. As soon as I got into the car after leaving him in his class.

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