Anyone got a child starting school in January?

[MerryChristmasPANDAGHappyNewYe]

Title says it all really. We live in a part of the country that still has 2 school intakes a year, and so DD starts school next Monday. She is my younger child, and I am looking forward to her starting school, but am a bit wobbly about it too, as the day approaches. Anyone else going ghrough the same thing to share the experience with would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Dd (4.5) starts tomorrow too. She is very excited, I'm nervous. She'll be fine, she's is moving up from doing 1/2 days in the nursery and half her class are moving up too. And she's only going to the classroom next door... The only bit that might be difficult is the school dinners I think.

So I don't know why I'm worried! Think I might cry when she walks off across the playground in her school uniform though. (no uniform in nursery, and separate entrance).

And I'm worried about me in the school playground too. I mean I hated them last time I had to be in one! I'm a wimp I know. I'm sure I will find lots of friendly mums. Aagh.

Hi ladies

Glad to hear I'm not the only one in the starting school boat.

Panda well done on getting the uniform, sounds like it was a bit of a hassle

Dimpledthighs, soundslike a good plan for tomorrow. I've got pleanty to do tomorrow as my best friend is getting married on Saturday and ds1 is her pageboy and I'm her matron of honour ot bestwoman - which ever you prefer!

I've had a nightmare night, put ds1 to bed after his bath and he was excited he was going to school, his cousins had been round and brought him a starting school present and we had received lots of texts wishing him luck but then at 9:00pm he came down in floods of tears saying he doesn't want to go to big school - I could have cried.
I've managed to persuade him that it will just be like going to preschool and that he'll know lots of people there, thankfully he has gone back to sleep now but only with the promise of a magazine and some sweets on the way home if he enjoys it.

I know he is going to be fine tomorrow but I just didn't expect him to get this worked up. Right I'd best go and iron in some name tags.

Good luck to all the lo's & mums tomorrow, look forward to reading all the success stories Beks

Well DD3 seemed to do fine today. She was very quiet, but that is her way when she is processing new stuff. Clung to her best friend for dear life when we arrived but at tea time she informed us that another little girl had asked her to play tomorrow. And she 'painted a self-portrait' apparently.
Good luck to everyone for tomorrow.

Rosa - glad to hear that your DD was ok yesterday. Hope she gets on well today too.

Beksmum, hope DS settled ok for the night, and went off ok today.

anyone else who had children start today, how did they (and you) cope? Any tips?

Dimpledthighs - one of the things I am going to do next week is get my hair cut, and go for a wax. I also plan to find some exercise classes to attend during the day as my Pilates has had to stop because of DS's Beavers.

Glad to hear lots of positive stories so far.

Our meeting this morning went well, and we have all the kit (including last minute PE kit that I had no idea about).

DS is having his stories, and the iron is heating ready for mass labelling session.

My nerves now are mainly around whether ds will click with the other children or not. He has some nice friends at nursery, but only 2 are going to the same school. He tends to either hit it off with peers straight away or clash with them (bit like me I suppose). Fingers crossed.

My darling dd started today (had a mass label ironing session last night!). She didn't seem fazed at all despite not having been to the pre-school and knowing nobody. After being used to 10 hour days at day nursery (only 2-days/week though)the 6-hour school day should be a breeze. We're just trying to get our head around the drop offs and pick-ups now as we both work.

my little one doesnt start until the end of the month!! although she is excited, she's still got a couple of weeks to wait.

Which gives me time to finish buying her school uniform. have only brought shoes, some polo shirts and white t-shirts for PE. does anyone else's school have 2 colours of uniform ??? - dd's is grey or navy. if so what colour do u choose ???

ds1 was very excited about going this morning and seems to have enjoyed himself (although I can't get much information out of him about what he actually did!). He had been going to the nursery at the school so already knows most of his classmates which is nice.

I felt a bit tearful at times yesterday but everything was such a rush this morning I didn't have a chance to think about it. And I enjoyed having more time with ds2 . When he goes I shall be a mess I'm sure!

my DD1 starts next Wednesday. Does three days 9-12.05 then into 9-3.25 from the following Monday. I am taking the day off to bring her down, pick her up on Wednesday and will also do so on Friday

She is positive about it tho' has asked whether I can stay with her for a while if she doesn't like it - wouldn't you know that was the one question I forgot to ask at out meeting with teacher yesterday - anyone know what is the norm on that?

I am worried about lunch time etc, they are so little and it all feels quite daunting (BIG school, about 650 pupils )

am worried about bursting into tears on the day tbh

can those of ou who have done it already tell me whether it is mostly both parents or just one who drops off on day 1? I will def be there, just wondering whether to drag DH...

Gingernut - glad it went well today.
RuthyDD - pleased to hear the meeting was ok

JeanGenie - when I took DS 2 years ago it was just me - I would say it was only one parent for the majority of children - or CM or nanny/GP etc.

OUr home viisit was fine - DD showed off abit, and the teacher and the TA had to go upstairs to see her new bedroom - she had it redecorated for Christmas so of course wanted to show it off! I am glad I tidied it up!

JeanGenie - DH came along yesterday with us but he works from home so was easy for him to spare the time. There were a few other dads there but not the majority by any means.

DD seems to have enjoyed day two - though DH asked her if the loos were nice and she said she didn't know, she hadn't been there yet!

Gosh, I'm glad we didn't get a home visit, the house is always a mess with my 2 active boys tearing around all the time.

My dh didn't come today - had a meeting he couldn't get out of. There were quite a few children accompanied by both parents at our school, but plenty of Mums on their own (and a few Dads on their own). I took some photos of ds1 for dh to see (although I ended up taking more of ds2 walking home hand in hand with the younger sibling of one of the other boys in ds1's class ).

Hi all

Just a quick one from me tonight - thanks for all your support, we survived the first morning at 'big school' and even managed to paint a picture of the family cat apparently. My ds is looking forward to going back tomorrow so that's a major plus and I held it together pretty well, although there were a few tears all round when one of our friends unexpectedly came out in floods of tears. Dh of course just laughed at us all but I could tell his eyes were moist too.

It just feels like you're throwing them in at the deep end and leaving them to it but of course kids being kids they don't bat any eyelid.

Hope 1st days went or go well for everyone else and here's to the next 5 years of the school run Beks

Hi all

Our first day was fine. I felt very strange dropping him off, but he took it all in his stride.

Its hard to know what his first day was really like, but I suppose thats just the way its going to be (unlike nursery where you find out what they had for lunch and other important things like how many times they went to the toilet). He only told me that he wasn't a bully, and that he has a "thermometer" called Jack to look after him.

Thanks for all your support, and good luck to all those starting on Monday. Try to have a relaxing weekend.

My dd started last thurs and has been loving it! Full of news and interest and a lovely side-effect is that she is really pleased to see me. She cried when she was asked to line up though so it wasn't easy but went in with the teacher and was fine afterwards. I felt awful all day though so went to meet friend whose dd started same time and we both felt much better! Def good to meet a friend DP afterwards!!

its the final countdown...

he starts tomorrow at 8.45am! nnnnnnnnoooooooooo

will post tomorrow!

Hello all

well DD seems to be taking school in her stride, minor blip as half the class went in the morning and half in the afternoon yesterday, and her particular friend was in the opposite group to her, but after reassurance that the friend would be there today all was well, and she happily went into the class without a backward glance, same this morning. I am doing ok, but am sitting here MNing when I should be doing something useful!

Scorpio, how did it go?

Any more updates anyone?

hey!

he went fine.no clingyness or anything! came running out with a sticker (proud pose here!)and telling me all about sitting next to ben and george.

and he wanted to go back today.

he hates his school shirt though!

Oh I know we have all been so positive and everything but not going so well for me. First couple of days were fine then on Monday at super she asked how many more days she had to go before a day off I told her four adn she crumpled into tears and said 'I just can't manage very well without you' yesterday was okay - dropped her off fine although she seemed nervous. Then today when I took her to the classroom I said goodbye and kissed her and then she called me and came over and started sobbing. I sat her on my lap and tried to convinve her to do something adn she kept saying don't go mummy. I stayed until they got their things to get changed for PE - they lined up at the door and then I just said okay darling bye - and left. Now I feel awful.

So I need an action plan if it happens again. Is it best just to leave quickly even if she is crying (I don't know if I could do that) or stay until she is settled (might make her just dread me going)

She knows other girls there, but no particular friend. I think she is happy but just hates change and situations she doesn't know. It was the same at preschool and I tackled it by staying for a great deal of sesions but that took ages and in teh long run I think it was not the best choice.

Help!

Am so sad today - can't stop thinking about her.

oh im sorry to hear that dimpledthighs.

i was so panicky about mine too.

maybe be firm and just leave her? heartbreaking i know, but she will get used to it.

good luck

thanks scorpio - sweet of you to reply. I think you are right I sould be brisk and leave but easier said than done - am a classic soft touch!

Oh Dimpled - sorry to hear that DD is finding it hard. It must be difficult for you too, to see her upset. I think that Scorpio may be right, that a firm approach, and a definite fairly quick goodbye and leave might be best. I am a CM, and found this approach worked best with my mindees. With regard to friends, can you invite someone back for a playdate fairly quickly, to help her establish relationships?

Hope tomorrow goes better.

Dimpled - can you talk to the teacher about maybe geting there a bit earlier than the rest and her giving your dd a special job such as setting out hte tables or something to make leaving you easier. I agree that in the long term leaving staight away, and telling her when you will be back eg after lunch is the best plan, but they really need someone to go to initially to keep them occupied and hopefully avoid the tears.

The teachers should be used to this so if you have a chat I am sure they will suggest lots of strategies for dealing with it.

Good luck

Thanks everyone - the consensus here and amongst my friends seemed to be a swift goodbye so decided on that - then at the end of school was asked if I could stay until she was settled as they only have a teacher and a ta and cannot do 1-2-1 with any of the children!

So if that's what they recommend!

Thanks for the advice re: friends. I have asked a little girl round on saturday - they used to be friends and then the otehr girl started school in sept so they need to get used to each other again.

Just can't wait for it all to be normal - is dominating our whole lives at the moment.

Hope everyone else is surviving better than us!

How did it go on Friday Dimpled? How was the playdate yesterday?