“You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne/Christopher Robin
Oh, how wise ‘Christopher Robin’ will always be.
My girls have taught me this and so much more this week, more so than ever before. They have taught me bravery, strength, and resilience that I didn’t know they had, or I had. Our girls have officially started school.
It is only twice a week for the remainder of this year, but they have officially started.
They were so brave so strong, they did not cry, not one single tear.
'School' has been a hotly debated topic in our home. There have been so many factors that have stopped us from starting the girls in school this year. COVID has of course been the main reason, but there have been a few others too. I wanted them to be able to talk and tell me about their day and everything that happened. This was an important milestone for me.
Our girls have only known our home, as have many other children, for the most part of COVID. They have never been used to leaving in the mornings or going out a lot during the day. They are now more comfortable with me leaving for work and understand that mamma does leave to go to work but that mamma will always be back. When I'm working from home, then they also know that mamma is working in her room and they play and carry on with their days at home as usual. It is because of this that I have been particularly worried about the girls starting school. I just felt it was such a shock to their system to their routine. I have been so worried about the day I would drop them off at school and they would feel as though I was just abandoning them. All of this is another reason I liked that I could ease them into school with just a few days a week. I know many people who believe this can sometimes make it more difficult to settle but I really do believe it was the right choice for us.
For months now (and I really do mean months) I have been talking to the girls about school. Reading books about going to school and watching shows that have little children going to school and being with their teacher and having fun. I would ask them if they wanted to go to school. When I would do different activities like painting or colouring or play dough, I would tell them that one day when they go to school, they would get to do this with their teacher and friends and show them how beautiful they can do it.
Finding the right school that gives you all the feels and ticks all the boxes is another whole obstacle altogether, but this one just landed right on our laps. My sister-in-law was chatting to an old friend of ours and she was sending her little one to school late in the year and was sending him to this school. When my sister-in-law told me about it, I messaged her straight away for the details and messaged the school that same night the minute I got the details.
Hubby and I made an appointment to go see the school and we loved it immediately. It was everything we wanted. It felt homey, it wasn’t a big school, it was small and comfortable and we just had a good feeling the whole time we were there and chatting to everyone.
I had been speaking to the girls so much about school but in all honesty, they had no real reference no real picture to visualize from. I asked the school if it would be possible for me to bring the girls through to explore the school and just get a feel for it too. They were more than happy to accommodate us, and I truly believe this was the game-changer for us. From the very minute we arrived at the school the girls felt so comfortable, within a few minutes it was as if we weren’t even there.
They connected with the one teacher, and it was just so special to see. They spoke of the teacher all the way home and we held on to that leading up to taking them to school. I continued to talk to them about school as often as possible after the visit which was about a month before we started. It was so much nicer to see how they resonated with it so much more now that they had seen the school and already loved their teacher.
I started now talking to the girls about school a little differently. I wanted to make sure they understood that mom and dad weren’t going to stay with them at school. Just like mom and dad go to work every day, we come back every day. I wanted them to know we would drop off the girls at school and we would come back and fetch them when they were done.
I reassured them that as soon as they were done mom or dad would be there to fetch them.
The day before they started school, I went on my way home from work and bought the girls some stickers (which they are loving now), and asked if they wanted to make their teacher a beautiful picture. They were so excited they spent so much time making their beautiful picture for their teacher.
I was so anxious about taking them to school and was preparing myself for tears, the teachers having to unwrap the girls from around me and me fighting to keep them. But it was quite the opposite. From the minute they woke up they were talking about their pictures and how much their teacher would love their pictures.
Alaia wanted to pick their outfits and said, “Mommy me make me and Nunny boo-tiful today for school.” We got to school and Gisela was so excited she was already ahead of us walking on her own so confidently, Alaia following close by but still close enough to Hubby and me too. We got to the class and didn’t know what to expect from drop-off.
As we walked into the classroom all the children ran to the door to welcome us. I could see the girls were feeling quite overwhelmed but still stood so bravely and took it all in. The teacher they connected with came soon after and welcomed them at the door with hugs and the warmest welcome. They were so excited they could finally give their pictures. The teacher was so grateful, and the girls were just so chuffed with themselves it was so cute. That was that. The teacher took their hands and off they went.
By the time we had got home, we already had photos of them having so much fun and the teacher said they were in their element.
Starting a new job, entering a new place with new faces even to us as adults can be so intimidating so overwhelming. Seeing how brave the girls were despite how scary and overwhelming it may have felt was incredible.
I couldn’t talk to my mom on the phone to tell her how it went I just wanted to cry. Hubby and I just looked at each other and our eyes filled with tears. I had no reason to be so emotional. The girls were fine they weren’t crying they weren’t screaming for me not to go they were happy. Yet, I was feeling so emotional so vulnerable, my baby girls were at school, were brave enough to say bye to me, and knew that mommy would be back to fetch them. It was a big day for the girls, and it was a big day for mom and dad too.
The teacher suggested we pick the girls up a bit earlier on their first few days to just reinforce the trust that mom and dad will fetch them and that the day wouldn’t feel too long. When I got there to fetch them, they were playing in the sandpit. Alaia smiled when she saw me and gave me the best little hug. Gisela eventually tore her eyes away from what she was doing to look at me and said, "Mommy why you here, I’m playing.”
The second day run just as smoothly, and I even fetched them a little later. They were so happy they didn’t even want to leave to come home. I know it might not be easy every time, but I am so proud of my girls and the next time I have a scary situation I need to walk into I will remember just how bravely they did this.