School: What They Don't Tell You.

That's Miss D. It's week eight of her first term at school, and this is what she does now... marches ahead independently when in the school yard for pick up and drop off. Her world has changed. And so has mine.

During her last term at Kindergarten I spent a fair bit of time preparing Miss D for the coming first term of school, so did the kindy and so did the school itself, and with a few hiccups here and there she has intergrated quickly and easily, just as I knew she would. What I wasn't expecting is how unprepared I would be.

I was expecting my own first day anxiety, sending my first born off into the big school, relinquishing the reigns a little and of course the inevitable tears (my own) that went with that. What I didn't realise was that first term would leave me with my own head spinning and feeling a little bewildered.

Here are the things I hadn't thought about:

You have to make a packed lunch every single day Packing lunch every day can be a nightmare. Especially as I do all my own baking, including the bread for sandwiches and the school still has a blanket no nut policy.

You can't run late It's not casual like kindy was, we were actually hardly ever late for kindy, but they seriously weren't fussed what time you rocked up. School is regimented and once that school bell has blown if you aren't in class, you are late. I have even found myself chasing down the class, despite the fact that the bell has not yet rung, I have found that if D's teacher is on a mission she will set on her path regardless of how many children have arrived for the day.

School Uniform, is not as easy as it seems like it would be. Having a girl, she still likes to have a variety of outfit choices so the washing is constant. Plus there are the hair dos....not my forte.

I read newsletters cover to cover...if I actually recieve one in the first place. We had a student free day sprung on us with a days notice in D's first week at school. I questioned the teacher, "It was in the newsletter, it went home the first day of school". That's great except the newbies started on the second day of school......oh and aparently you have to sign up to recieve one.

School yard attitude is not checked at the door. Seriously, two days at school and alrady I was getting "Whatever mum!"

School hasn't changed since I was there. D: "Hey mum, open the gate" (hands gestured like two gates)"Pick some flowers" "How many did you pick?"
Me (knowingly): "one"
D (giggles): " You have one boyfriend"

Getting to after school activities can be nuts Two small chldren needing to be changed into ballerina outfit in a very short space of time. One ravenously hangry (yes, I Said HANGRY) and tired. Cue lots of tears and shouting (sometimes my own).

Week 8 is hell week. Seriously, my sister told me just this week, and she is right, wish I'd known sooner.

The tiredness you were expecting manifests in suprising ways. I expected random tears and out bursts in the late weeks of term... but no, tiredness is being expressed with extreme attitude, and lots of picking on her little sister, and "It's not fair!" and "I have to do everything".

There are bake sales. And fun runs and excursions and you might not know until the last minute.

The little one misses the big one. So much.

The 5 year old has worked out that they are not just an extension of you, that they are in fact actually an independent little person I think this is the one that has blind sided me the most, and it encompasses so many aspects of the above, and it's the one I will probably take the longest to get my head around. It's quite facsinating and heart wrenching at the same time. I am no longer the be all and end all.

So, in a nutshell, this term has been a major learning curve for the entire house hold. And I think it's one that will take us some time to get used to. I am very proud of the way D has handled this term, and not so proud of the way I have handled some of it..... but I guess I'm still learning too.

But seriously, bring on school holidays. I need a rest too!