School's In for 2018
So first school week of 2018 is all done and dusted... What can I say, it was both emotional, a little stressful but an all round success.
I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way but getting back into routine after eight weeks of sleeping in and lazy mornings is a killer. Setting my alarm for 5:45am hurts my mind. As I've mentioned probably more than once, I'm not a morning person. In fact, I’m like the creature from the black lagoon, well, that is until I actually walk out of my bedroom and get stuck into the day. There is just something about leaving my bed because I have to and not because I want to that really gets me!
The routine has changed somewhat this year as our oldest has started high school, which means we leave earlier to drop her first and get home later after picking her up. It also means Ms High Schooler has set a few rules for me.
MUM NEVER MAKE ME A SANDWICH AGAIN NOONE HAS SANDWICHES ANYMORE
MUM DO NOT PACK MY SPORTS UNIFORM IN A BAG THAT SAYS “MERMAID HAIR IS COOL” ON THE FRONT.
DO NOT PACK MY LUNCH IN A LUNCHBOX... EVER.
MUM I LOVE YOU BUT PLEASE STOP CALLING ME AND CHECKING I'M OKAY AT LUNCHTIME.
OKAY, okay... I totally understand the calling at lunchtime thing, it was her first day and I just wanted to check in... and see if she was still alive and not wandering lost in the depths of the school. Lucky for her though, the school only allows mobile phones to be checked at lunchtime and they must remain in their lockers at all times. I suppose the constant buzzing pocket when your mother is trying to call would be distracting.
I’ll let the sandwich pass and swap it out with cruskits as apparently it's acceptable to eat and walk with those.
I don’t really understand what's wrong with the mermaid bag, its just a cute sports bag and I think mermaid hair is cool… I’m pretty sure thats probably the problem.
I totally don't understand the lunchbox thing, the lunch has to go somewhere. After several suggestions, including a plastic bag. I'm allowed to use a Tupperware box.. Umm what the???? Isn't that classified as a lunch box?????
Regardless of the few rules though, she's taken to high school like a champion, completely stepped out of her comfort zone. She knew absolutely no one when she walked into the school grounds on the first day and my husband and I were so proud that she walked in. I guess it helps that the school has won international awards for transitioning students from primary school to middle school. Here I was thinking I’d nailed this parenting thing.
As she got out of the car today at drop off, turned to me and said bye mum, in the way that says I love you without ACTUALLY saying it, I realised just how big she really has become. Our first born daughter who I remember holding in my arms for the first time, is now becoming a teenager and she's starting to take responsibility for her own life.
There are so many emotions that I'm going through. I'm so proud that she's grown into such an amazing young woman who adapts and overcomes to changing situations so well. I'm so excited for her to have such an amazing high school experience, one I truly lacked myself. I’m also feeling nostalgic as I watch her go off to conquer the world in whichever way she decides. I can’t help but feel bloody old though. I remember my first day of high school like it was only yesterday, however then my husband has no problem reminding me it was 20 years ago. Ouch. Time just flies and I just hope it gets easier to let go a little more each time when I have to.
