He has not talked about it much over the holidays. No desire to try on the school uniform. A 'not happy Jan' face when we bought the school shoes. No particular interest to identify an A from a B from a C. (His favourite letter is still L. I suspect it always will be.)
This morning I went to wake him for his Big Boy breakfast. He rolled over, warm and sleepy. "Do you know what day it is, Mum?" What day? "It's my first day at school Mum," he said, leaping out of bed. Ready to go.
Later, as he endured the 1500th coaxing to 'look at the camera, smile for Mummy, don't scrunch your nose', weighed down by the tortoise shell of his enormous backpack, jumping up and down to test his shoes, I wondered if I was ready to let him go.
At school, The Builder and I helped him put his bag away. We found his table where, to his delight, he is seated with four friends and a 'new guy'. And then he turned to us: "You can go now." A kiss and it was all over.
I picked him up this afternoon, almost unable to pick him from the line-up of little boys. One thing a uniform does is make a person blend in, right? When he spotted me, waiting to collect him, he beamed. Suddenly he stood out like a beacon.
Big shoes, big shorts, big hat, big smile. My little Big Boy.
Sigh.
Bless. Such a special time.
ReplyDeleteFarmgirl starts this week. She is currently obsessed with her new school bag....
Congratulations you're on the other side! Our big day is Thursday. I'm getting nervous, first one off to big school! :-)
ReplyDeleteAwww... you could bring a tear to a glass eye Al!! This is lovely :)
ReplyDeleteAnd there it is. All done. x
ReplyDeleteI'm still undecided about the whole weeping buckets versus shrieking for joy conundrum.
ReplyDeleteGlad he went well. Have to love his big smile at the end of the day.
ReplyDeletePersonally I cried when both kids started at big school. But I enjoyed the child free time immensely.
Aww love this post! Still 2 weeks before they start the school year in Tasmania and my big little boy is starting this year too - I think there'll be equal doses of weeping buckets and shrieks of joy for me. It is a conundrum isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh Allison, this is just so beautifully written, I could feel every emotion. It's amazing how resilient our children really are and all WE do is worry and fuss about each milestone as it arises. Sounds like your little big boy is off to a flyer. Well done Mama, you did it xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous post! and I'm LOVING the shoe photo!
ReplyDeleteAwww.
ReplyDeleteWell done - both of you.
:-)
Well he's been and done that! Started that is! The day must have felt a bit different for you too!
ReplyDeleteI get that sameness ( initially) in school uniform look. Once went to pick up eldest granddaughter after school. Still haven't seen her, fortunately only one grandma looking like hers so she found me!
They're such mystery men, aren't they? I'm sure he was secretly pumped about school, he just didn't want to appear too eager.
ReplyDeleteWe still have another week at home before our Mr5's first day. It's dragging, let me tell you.
Congrats Mama Fibro, all your little ducks off on their own.
My Mr 5 started last week. While he seems to have settled into all quite nicely, me on the other hand, are feeling quite at sea...
ReplyDeleteLovely Words, and it sounds like he had a lovely first day. Always great when you pick them up and they're smiling, it makes your heart sing.
ReplyDeleteAhh I'm so glad it all went well. What a lovely post to look back on once he's all settled in and loving his new school.
ReplyDelete*tear* I can say, with great certainty, this one cannot be fixed by having more kids.
ReplyDeleteThat's beautiful Alison. What a lovely memory to have of his first day at big school.
ReplyDeleteOh what a day & how great to see that smiling face this afternoon! This will be me tomorrow, my baby..
ReplyDeleteSuch a big day for your big boy!
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations to you both, getting through his first day without tears.
He'll be jolly phonicing before you know it.
ReplyDeleteYou are now FREE between 9-3!
Xx
Beatiful post - thanks for sharing this moment with us. For me, it seems so far away (Ashleigh's 20 months), yet so close!
ReplyDeleteIt's the whole "you can go now" thing that breaks me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brave big boy.
sounds like his first day was a winner!
ReplyDeleteSuch a milestone isn't it! My little girl started last week and it was such an exciting day for her. I had mixed feelings - pride, shock, joy. Hard to believe they aren't babies any more isn't it?
ReplyDelete