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| I'm not 100% sure I want to go actually |
The first day was actually Monday but they only went in for two hours. DD started a new kindergarten. It's a two-year class, Pre-K and Kindergarten together. DD is the youngest of the Pre-Ks which means there are children who are almost two years older than her. So far she's taken a liking to twin girls who will be 6 in January (so they told me) whereas DD will be 4 in December. And they are tall. When I first saw them I thought they were bringing in their little brother. It was a bit of a shock tbh but we all saw Little House On The Prairie and they all learned to read in that one little schoolroom, didn't they? Turns out the twins have recently arrived from America so whilst they enjoy helping DD in a big-sisterly sort of way, she tells them what the teacher is saying when they don't understand the Hebrew. It's cute.
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| Is it too late to change my mind? |
As the two hours were from 8am - 10am I didn't send the 10 o'clock snack. However, at 9.30 they all sat down and took out lunch boxes with sandwiches, cut up vegetables and fruit (who knew?). DD got upset and the assistant brought her outside where I was waiting. I picked her up and she sobbed into my neck, "I don't like this school!" Trying not to cry myself I carried her back inside and managed to find some crackers in my bag and her water bottle. Luckily one mother had baked a chocolate cake so that was also handed around. We left at 9.45 - enough is enough on the first day.
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| New school bag from Aunty Duzy |
Tuesday was three hours and she stayed without any fuss. And today - *sighs with big smile on face* - today was the first full day. DD was a bit tearful as I left her with the assistant. I waited outside for five minutes and indeed she was brought out crying in the arms of said assistant. "Here's Mummy, you see?" said the woman. I went to give DD a kiss as she was reaching out for me. "OK!" chirped the lady holding my baby, as she turned and disappeared back inside before I could come to close. I blew a kiss and was left alone and a bit dazed. I've learned though that you have to trust that the staff know what they're doing. I didn't see DD again until pickup time at 3.30.
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| I'm really quite enjoying this after all |
Today I pottered about, checked emails and work stuff (without doing any actual work). I cooked quite a lot because I enjoy cooking uninterrupted. I admit that I fell asleep for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and I read my book. Today was my holiday.
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| Checking out the other kids |
Tomorrow I want to clean a summer's worth of mess and dirt from my apartment. Tomorrow I prepare for a good start to the academic year with a clean and tidy home.
And Sunday I start work again. Phew, we made it!
First of all, DD looks so cute in the photos!
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved to Aderet all the children from 3-6 were in one kindergarten class. By the time Dani started, there were almost enough children (over 30) to split them into two classes, but not quite. His birthday is in October, so he wasn't yet three and some of the kids were nearly six. There were two assistants to help the nursery teacher and although I was quite worried, it was absolutely fine. The teacher always made sure that the activities were age appropriate for each age group. It was nice to have both my boys in one class.
I am in awe, as I was for the entire two previous years of nursery, by how much they achieve with such little children in quite large groups. As I said, I've learned to trust them and so far I've not been disappointed. Thanks for your constant support and benefit of your experience Gillian.
DeleteLove the sequence of photos. Give her a week or so and she will be running in without saying goodbye I bet you!! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when this happened to me! :D
ReplyDeleteYeh I know - it's just so hard to walk away when she has her arms outstretched to me and tears running down her little face. :(
DeleteI know she was a bit teary at first but it looks like she's settling bit by bit :-) And look at you getting some time to yourself! Fantastic move for you both ;-)
ReplyDeleteEh.... Little House on the Prairie? My OH went to a school like that in rural Ireland!!
xx Jazzy
LOL - Mr Jazzy Ingalls Wilder? Has he written the books about it yet?
DeleteI got told by the teacher today that I need to leave quicker as hanging around wasn't helping. Woops.
Bless her, it seems so grown up! I hope you enjoyed some child-free time to do things for yourself. I think I would be clinging to my little ones ankles before running home quick enough to try and savour each minute....
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to leave while she's upset but then I do run home to do my stuff with great relief.
DeleteOh heck, it's so hard having to leave them on that first day. Even though we know in our heart they'll be fine (why would we leave them in school at all if we didn't think that?!) we still worry and hope to goodness that the teachers will take care of them. I cried on Amy's first day at school but she was absolutely fine. Hope DD will continue enjoying school now.
ReplyDeleteThankd CJ - it's already getting easier. Apparently the trick (as the teacher told me) is for me to go quickly instead of making a meal of it.
DeleteOh this is so lovely to read and as Jazzy said many schools in Ireland teach more than year at a time - even in the cities - my eldest was in a 4th/5th class for one year in primary and my son in his outreach unit has 5th/6th class in together.
ReplyDeleteI know it has to work as there are so many schools like this but those almost 6yos seem so big next to my little still 3yo.
DeleteDD's made great progress in just a few days! She looks adorable. I remember it being so hard to leave when your little one is in tears, but they forget their sadness much quicker than we do! good luck for the coming year.
ReplyDeleteGilly
I know, she now stays with only a little winge and she's stopped by the time I've left the room. Thank you and good luck to your family for a successful and happy year. xx
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