Making the first day of school count.

 Yesterday, while I was picking my younger son from a birthday party, I happened to drive past his kindergarten, after a long time.

He asked me to slow down to have a look at the building, but since it was dark by then, he couldn't catch more than a glimpse.

The Principal of his kindergarten recently left this earthly abode. He was telling me how he missed her and the teachers who were loving and caring.

My younger one is in grade 5 and elder one is in grade 10 now.

It's been a long time, since they graduated from kindergarten and entered the big school.

But somethings always remain in that treasure trove of your memories. As they say, firsts are invariably special.

When my elder son started his playgroup, he hadn't completed two, as he is a July born. I was a bit skeptical about putting him in kindergarten. I had a talk with his Principal Ma'am and she said that let's see how he performs and will decide.

So I went with her intuition and my instincts.

Nonetheless, however you plan and expect, things go the way they are destined to.

My son was all happy, with his new orange bag on his shoulders. An attractive tiffin box with colourful water bottle. His name sticker all decorated with shades of sketchpens.

I rode a scooter, with him standing in the front, holding his legs tightly between my feet. That's how we used to navigate in the city. He was chatting with me endlessly, as he always did. As the school building became visible, his voice started shaking.

His talk was now all questions, 'Is going to school necessary?', 'Are the teachers friendly?'.....and then, before I could answer, he began to ease himself with, 'They don't hit you unless you do some mischief, Mumma', 'They won't make you cry, Mumma'......

Ohh!My Heart skipped a beat. "Why are you making your kid go through all this?", a typical mother's voice haunted me. "Let him chill some more at home, what's the hurry?".

I hushed my inner voice and told him to not worry and have fun. I was saying this, but somewhere, back of my mind, I was contemplating about his mindset.

I dropped him at the gates, with heavy heart but sporting a smile, to avoid, him breaking into tears. But finally when he stepped inside and lost my sight, he started crying. Well, he couldn't see me but I could peep through the compound and see him sobbing while continuously turning back to catch a glimpse of me.

That day I learnt that however you prepare yourself for the worst, when you witness it, it's difficult to digest.

Later, within a week, he got adjusted to the new environment and happily attended his school. So I also learnt that, all the anxiety and worries are going to retreat as the phase passes. You learn to adjust, mould and sustain, once you get the feel of it.

For my younger son, things were simpler, may be because it was my second time. So I could handle it confidently.

Not all the fingers are same, my younger one is more outgoing and bold. He doesn't take time to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. So he merrily attended his school since day one. I was a bit hesitant but his small talks relieved my tension about the whole thing.

That day I learnt that if you are sure of sailing through then no matter what others think, you come through unscathed.

Kudos to the brave heart parents who fight through the first day of kid's school and come out with flying colours, together with their kids!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: "You are off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way" ~ Dr. Seuss. 

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