Another School First

So, our baby started "big school" this week! Zoe was scheduled for the afternoon session (half days for the first week) so it was hard watching big sister get her uniform on and pack her lunch first thing in the morning - Zoe was ready to go right away!!

I've been a wreck for days over the whole thing, but by the time Monday got here, we were all ready for everyone to be in school!

The schools are really good here about making sure that the children are really ready to start school. Zoe has had 3 different visits as a part of the preparation - a half day to just hang out and play in the classroom with her new teacher and classmates last July, and then later in July a "fun day" with her mates from Sunny Socks (pre school). Then, last week we went in for a one on one with the teacher - she found her peg for her jacket and p.e. bag (yes they have to change clothes for p.e. 3 times per week!), where to put her lunchbox, et and mom and dad got to visit with the teacher while Zoe explored the classroom on her own.

Like I said, by the time Monday came around the anxiety was gone for both she and I. She looked so DAMN cute in her teeny tiny little uniform and she was so excited - it was cool.

I got a little emotional on the way to the school as we walked hand in hand all alone along the pavement... we just talked like we always do about her panda and kitty and their starring roles in her dreams, about her new friends in school stuff like that... and I looked down at her and really could have cried.

We passed all of the where does Zoe's stuff go tests and then settled in to read a few books while she worked out her nerves. By the time the third book was read, she was sending me on my way...

I felt so alone as I walked away from that school... it was more bewildering than sad - such a transition - especially after spending the last 6 weeks with both of them under my feet nearly every day, it was just weird to be by myself... Why is it that you spend so much time wishing they would get big when they are small - then when they get big, you wish you would have enjoyed them more when they were small?

On the other hand, it is so cool having 'big' kids - they both have such fantastic and different personalities and there is so much we can do as a family without the worries that you have with super small kids - we are enjoying the hell out them right now!