So! This is me again – now a Bangalore newbie – writing this as a means to retain some sanity (again!) – as I hide myself away in the Administrative Block of my son’s new school in a deliberate & i confess, desperate attempt to cut the apron strings, the umbilical cord…call it what you will!
The howler (read son) was deposited duly howling this morning in class in what I hope are the loving arms of his teacher. Yesterday, I stayed with him all day hoping to gently nudge him towards acceptance, what with it being the first day of school and all…I really should have known better! So today I’ve switched to the time-tested combo of ‘abandonment + fingers crossed + prayer’…wish me luck!
I’d forgotten how hard and scary school can be, especially to a 5-yr-old in his first proper, big school. The noise, the bells, the discipline, new children, new teachers, the largeness of it all! I only hope that childhood memory being what it is, he’ll forget the fear and remember only the joy that I pray will follow! I know I do, and I’ve changed enough schools to know.
Sorry – short tear break there! Happy-sort though 🙂 Just spotted said howler ( not howling :)), dawdling along with his classmates as they walked back to their class. My first reaction was of course to duck and just in the nick of time too, as he was looking around presumably for yours truly. Why is parenting so hard? Why is education so necessary? Why is independence in a child so desirable, but the process so agonising? Sigh…
1 pm update – Called his teacher Ms. Anu…apparently he’s done ok 🙂 Had lunch too apparently! Fingers crossed 😁🙏
3.30 pm update – Said howler has vanished and in his place is a happy, grinning child, holding out a chocolate and gushing about getting a star!! “Be still my beating heart!” 😊 And so the roller coaster of parenthood completes another turn on it’s crazy course!
P. S. He’s been to school for two more days and although he cries bitterly every time I drop him off, he comes out smiling at the end of the day!! Whoever said schools weren’t MAGICAL 😉
P. P. S. Hopefully will move into our new home over the weekend and Life will improve. There’s only so long one can survive in a single hotel-room with a 5-yr-old before loosing those marbles 😛
H is for Happiness 
Children are nothing if not adaptable. He’ll complete the move more easily than you, I bet, even if all his internal drama spills out though tears and wailing. At the end of it all, he’ll happily smile with his star and chocolate and you’ll be smiling in wonder at his changeability. Meanwhile, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you 🙂
What I need is someone to give me stars and chocolates for everything I’m going through!!!! 😉 But I know what you mean…and as long as he comes out of this craziness unharmed and smiling…well that’s what matters most I guess 😛
I wonder though when I’ll have my routine back…it’s been soooo long 😦 Keep those fingers firmly crossed my Friend, and perhaps a toe or two for added luck? 😉
Haha, I took a pic of Amu, aged two and a half, howling away in montessori! Such a pathetically tragic face! Broke my heart and made me laugh helplessly at the same time!
Those heartstrings are crazy 🙂