On My Daughter’s First Day of Pre-School
It’s a big week for us this week. Yesterday my son started school and today is my daughter’s first day of pre-school. It was never my intention for my daughter to start this young. She’s 2 years and 3 months. I had always thought she would be closer to 3 like her brother. We paid for him to go a term early before his three year old funding kicked in. Aria will be going a full year before her funding starts, albeit only for two mornings. In fact, up to a couple of months ago this was always the plan. But I am quickly discovering, younger children have a mind of their own especially when they want to be like their older siblings.
It all started earlier this year when we used to drop my son off at pre-school, Aria starting screaming when it was time for us to leave. Not every morning, but there were some mornings when I had to carry her out of pre-school kicking and screaming under my arm shouting ‘Aria pre-school’. As term started coming to a close, and we started talking about Logan starting ‘big school’ Aria started asking if she could go to pre-school.
At first, I dismissed it saying not yet, you’re too little. But one morning as I dropped Logan off and Aria dived into playing in one of the sections one of the teachers said to me – she’s really ready to start isn’t she? It got me thinking that maybe she was ready to go.
I did have a couple of wobbles, I’m still not sure I am quite ready for her to go. However, as I said yesterday when I wrote about my son starting school, it’s not about me, it’s about what’s right for my daughter. Throughout the summer holidays barely a day has gone past where she hasn’t asked when she is going to start pre-school. She has been getting out her rucksack and playing pre-schools and she is so excited to be going. Only yesterday my husband asked her – are you sure you want to go to pre-school – to which she replied – I do! I do! So here we are today, with her venturing off on her first adventure on her own.
When my son went to pre-school, he’d already been to a childminder for 18 months of his life. But my daughter has barely spent any time away from me, other than odd day here and there when she has been left with either her father or grandparents. So it feels like a big step. She’s also quite attached to me so I am concerned about how she is going to get on. But I keep saying to myself it is only for two mornings and I can always pull her out if I need to. On a personal note it will be the first regular time I will have child free since I gave up work in December 2013. Which feels very strange.
I wish my daughter the best of luck for today. She is so excited and she is used to going there regularly with my son. Even if I do want to wrap her up in cotton wool for just a little longer, I know she will love it. But I think my house is going to feel very quiet today.
This totally echoes how I feel Laura. We are thinking of looking into a nursery for the mouse after she turns two for all the reasons you’ve listed. Good luck Aria! And good luck Mummy xx
I know how you feel. We’ve been thinking about starting Holly at preschool in Janusry and she will be 2yrs 5mths at this point. She has only ever been with me and I think it might do her good for a couple of mornings. Such a big decision isn’t it. But like you say at this age we can take them out if we need to and that’s comforting. I hope it all goes well X
Ah Laura it’s such a big step isn’t it! Thea starts in a few weeks but it’s every morning. But like Aria, Thea is so ready and can’t wait! I would much rather have it that way than them clinging to my legs and screaming because they don’t want me to go though. But it is making me feel a little redundant! I hope her first day goes well and she loves it as much as she thinks she will xx
Ah Laura it’s such a big step isn’t it! Thea starts in a few weeks but it’s every morning. But like Aria, Thea is so ready and can’t wait! I would much rather have it that way than them clinging to my legs and screaming because they don’t want me to go though. But it is making me feel a little redundant! I hope her first day goes well and she loves it as much as she thinks she will xx
Ah Laura it’s such a big step isn’t it! Thea starts in a few weeks but it’s every morning. But like Aria, Thea is so ready and can’t wait! I would much rather have it that way than them clinging to my legs and screaming because they don’t want me to go though. But it is making me feel a little redundant! I hope her first day goes well and she loves it as much as she thinks she will xx
I’m glad to read this because we did exactly the same thing with both of mine – we put them in as soon as they indicated to us that they felt ready. For both of them it was only one morning a week to start with but it was absolutely the right time for them. The very best of luck to her today, she’ll have an amazing time I’m sure.
Nat.x
Ohhhh I hope it’s gone well for all of you! It’s such a huge thing, but something it sounds like she’s been desperate for. I hope you had a lovely hot cup of tea and kept yourself busy xx
Ahhh I hope she had a great time. It does sound like she was ready to go. The time to yourself is strange at first but try to enjoy it if you can!
How lovely that she cried when you left. My daughter was the complete opposite when she started pre-school at 3 and would have to prised from us. At first I thought that I would take her out as there was no real need for her to go, but then I realised that it did do her good to have a bit of independence and the time it gave me, albeit not long was nice to do grown-up stuff. Once she got over this she was a happy confident girl who then went on to love school. It sounds like she was more than ready to go and it is only a couple of morning. Enjoy x