I’m sitting here at my computer and I’m acutely aware of just how quiet the house is now.
I walk past her room and look at her bed. We made it together after she brushed her teeth, just before she put on her uniform.
I held back from helping her dress. She’s determined. She attempts the buttons and then looks up at me. “That’s okay sweetheart, lets have a look.”
She chose her school shoes because they had hearts stamped into them. Her teacher said she would have picked them for that reason too.
We follow the chart. Time for hair. My fingers are awkward, unused to braiding her hair. By the end of the year I’ll probably be an expert. I pick up the pink can and tell her to close her eyes. Mist falls on her hair.
We were out the door an hour early. She was excited; beaming. A preppie.
She danced around the playground, exasperated by my need to take yet another photo.
Her friends arrive. There is electricity in the air. A buzz.
They jostled at the door to be let in. Impatient. Who will be first?
I saw other mums with tears in their eyes. I wasn’t sad. She is so ready for this. I’m so ready for this.
Peace. Time for myself.
She’s started school.
Linking up the love at With Some Grace for Flog Your Blog Friday
Good gilr for not crying. It’s a celebration. (plus us teachers thinks Mums who cry have issues!! – giggle)
Thanks Kyles. She thoroughly enjoyed herself but admitted it was a long and tiring day.
D x
Beautiful words Di – precious memory to capture. And now to enjoy *your* time x
Thanks Christine. I really didn’t want to forget how I felt on her first day of school.
D x
She looks like she is so ready for this!
Oh she is Miss Pink! Loving the knock on effects too – she’s hungry and eating all of her dinner and going to sleep really well! Bliss!
D x
Hope you have a lovely celebration – you’ve made a big step too. You know, I like to buy myself something nice when my eldest has a change. When he started high school I bought four lovely teacups and they still remind me of that mixture of pride and anxiety I felt that day.
Seana Smith recently posted..Eating Out Without Pigging Out – Farewell White Rice
That’s such a lovely idea Seana. I love the idea of a keepsake that commemorates this milestone. Thank you!
D x
That is a gorgeous photo. I had a little girl start school this year too. Thankfully no tears from her either. I surprised myself with just a slight welling up from me – she’s not my first, and she’s not my last, so I thought I would just take it all in my stride. But it is just such a milestone. I hope her year goes wonderfully.
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right recently posted..“Kids are human beings, whose lives belong to them and no one else” Reader spotlight – Mimbles
Thanks Rachel. We survived the first week but I wondered who was more tired – Olive or Mummy?
Thanks for stopping by. D x
What a gorgeous photo! My daughter started this year too and she’s very SOO tired but loves it. We even got a bit of homework which I wasn’t prepared for. I miss her though, she’s much easier to have around the house than my pocket rocket 16 month old and my 3 year boy
Emily @ Have a laugh on me recently posted..I’m not really that sweet but it seems someone disagrees
They really are tired, aren’t they. And hungry! It’s quite a change from kinder days