Starting school!

Terelle is starting playgroup this week! We decided to start her in school earlier, cos we dont want her to think that we are sending her away when Thane arrives! And since he's not due for another 3 mths, it gives her ample time to settle in nicely! Another plus point is for me; as im not so bulky and uncomfortable now, i can help her ease into school life sooner too!

Here is an account of her 1st week:

Day 1
Her teachers let me accompany her to class this week so that she wouldnt feel too traumatised. It was heartwarming to see how her new little classmates reacted to her. One tried to help her with her bag and lunchbox, another held her hand up during roll call to indicate that she was present. They were a really pleasant bunch with good manners and fine behavior and i was glad i made the choice to send her to this school.

She let me sneak off downstairs to grab a bite for about an hour, but when i returned i found her in tears in her teacher's arms. She soon stopped when she saw me and i counted my lucky stars she didnt cry violently. She also refused to let her teacher take her to the toilet today so i had to bring her myself. No sweat! i expected all these on the very 1st day so all in all it went by quite ok.

Day 2

She started crying as soon as we reached school, insisted on going to the toilet even though she just went, cos it gave her an excuse to delay going into class. Today her teacher told me to try to leave the class if not she may get too comfortable with me around. Hard hearted me was more than willing to give it a go so i scuttled off outside. Soon i heard screams of "i want mummy!!!" emanating non stop from the class, and the teacher had no choice but to call me back in.

Once inside, she insisted that i sit with her in class and follow her everywhere for fear that i would disappear again. She participated in all the activities happily and there were brief moments when she forgot about my presence and totally focussed on enjoying herself. But as soon as she remembered about me, she would quickly scan the room to ascertain my presence and then scoot over and hang onto my pants tightly. When i encouraged her to join in, she would do so hesitantly and kept looking over her shoulder to see that i was watching her.

Her teacher got her to demonstrate threading to the rest of the class and complimented her on her fine motor skills as she could follow exactly everything she did. I was pretty chuffed as my gal was the youngest in class and yet she could do things some of the older kids couldnt! haha..but then again, im biased!

Terelle allowed her teacher to take her to the toilet at the end of the class, and even waved goodbye to me but commanding me to stay put and telling me that she will be back soon in the same breath.

Day 3
Tried her usual trick of wanting to go to the toilet to escape class again and started crying as soon as we approached the school. I was rather tired today so didnt have the energy to entertain her theatrics. Got a bit fed up when she clung on to me during the Kindermusik session and refused to participate in the songs and dances.

She insisted that i sit right beside her at all times in class today and by the end of the school day i was totally whacked. One good thing though, she has started to let her teacher take her to the toilet without me.

Day 4
1st lesson of the day was Positive Focus and i found the lesson really interesting! The teacher was engaging and lively as she got the kids to go through different yoga poses while emphasizing that they were healthy and strong. Terelle took to yoga pretty well, perhaps it was because i did baby yoga with her when she was a wee tot. She could even hold the downward dog pose without wavering as the teacher slid under her!

She let me go off again today and i went to grab some lunch. I returned close to the time when school was about to end to find her crying hysterically and all because my dad peeked in at her unannounced and she got reminded that she was alone. Arrrrgh! Its really tough when u know your parents mean well but yet they screw up your plans sometimes. Had to drag a screaming and crying kid home that day, who kept insisting she didnt want to go to school anymore....

Day 5
My dad turned up unannounced at my house again at 1145am, the time when im rushing to get Terelle ready while cramming the last morsels of her lunch into her mouth. She got really upset at this unexpected event of seeing her grandfather and was crying and looking for me when she ran smack into the wall and bumped her head hard. As a result, she cried even louder, vomitted all her lunch over herself and made a complete mess. By the time i changed her and got her ready again, we were running late. I was beside myself with fury as i speeded all the way to school with her. I hate disruptions just as much as her and my level of tolerance is way low, what with being pregnant and all.

To make matters worse, my dad slammed his hand in the car door as we were getting off and bled all over Terelle's school bag. I told him to stay put and let me have a good look at the wound after i settled her into class but he being the matyr, sneaked off while i was occupied. Arrrrgh! What a terrible day! I was furious at my dad for ruining the day and making Terelle upset, worried that she got a whopper of a bruise on her head through no fault of her own and yet i was guilty as hell for yelling at him and upset that he injured his hand for nothing. Why oh why did he have to make the long trip up to my place today and indirectly cause all these ructions?? And being pregnant just makes everything worse as im so ungainly and uncomfortable and every movement is a pain.

It was a relatively subdued little girl who greeted me when i collected her today. I wonder isit because she has finally accepted that she will be going to school everyday or because her head was still throbbing from the nasty bruise??