Bright Futures

The time has come people.  We have busied ourselves enough over the school holidays, in an attempt to avoid over thinking and the massive inevitable flurry of emotions we are about to face.

Tomorrow, Master O starts at his new school.  He is the most sociable, confident and friendly child you will meet.   Stop at the lights long enough and he is waving at the children in the car next to him.  He is constantly stopping to chat to friends at the shops that he played with once for 5 minutes, last year, in a random playground somewhere. Walk past our house and he will introduce himself and tell you his life story.  But still I am worried.  Will he feel safe and comfortable?  Will he be upset when we leave? Will somebody play with him at lunch time? Is now the right time to move him?  Have we made the right decision?

The hardest part of this decision was that he was perfectly happy at his old school.  It was a good school, but in the long term, for him and for his sister, we needed more.  We know in the long term that he is simply going to flourish there.  It is a perfect fit for him.  It “gets” boys.  He will have space and time to run and be active, activities to help him learn by seeing and doing and feeling, and  more individual attention (he only has 15 children in his class, with an almost full time aide!)  

I changed schools, four times during primary school.  I dont recall ever being upset, just a little nervous and a whole heap excited.  He says he is excited, all those new people to meet, and playgrounds to explore and toys to play with and of course THAT POOL.   As yet it hasnt fazed him.  I have everything riding on the fact that he is young.  Young enough to take it all in his stride, to adapt quickly, to soak it all up.  

And me?  How will I adapt?  That, I am sure, will be harder.  I leave the most amazing bunch of school mums behind.  We were friends before our children went to school together and will continue to be friends.  But now we dont have any one to send a quick message to, to ask if it coloured clothes day, or if they could wait with him for a few minutes whilst we are stuck in traffic.  They were completely accepting of us, and our lives revolved around a constant stream of playdates in the park, birthday parties and coffees filled with gossip.  Will the new Mums be the same?  

So many unknowns, so many expectations and dreams and concerns and questions. But oh so much hope and faith.  Faith in the school, faith in him, faith in us, faith in serendipity and the way everything just came together…..

and that this is just the beginning of a very bright future.