were into september not long now frantic label sewing, shoe buying and general getting organised and breath!!

[bodenaddict]

hi ladies here is our new thread

I took dd to the cinema today and there was a technical problem so we have to go back another day to see the film.

I suddenly felt really sad because going to the cinema on a fairly regular basis, whole afernoons at the pool or library, long long walks and chatting in cafes, drifting round exhibitions, feeding the ducks and meeting with friends is all about to become more difficult to fit in, more timetabled, less carefree and far far less often...

I had been focusing on all the benefits of starting school and it hit me that dd will be gaining lots and it is so so good for her but also there will be somethings that her and I love lost...

LIZS - thanks, the school is nut free and so are we (DH is allergic)

MarshaBrady - I have just done nametapes. I think it depends on what proportion of parents you think will be thieving

EldonAve hopefully none!

It is a nice little school with not many pupils and I do know the other parents already, they are all nice. I don't think anything should go so missing but just wanted to check what the norm was.

Just finished with the sewing too, goodo.

Oh tea I know, I feel just the same. We've been doing such nice things together, and now even just mooching round the house will become harder to factor in. How will she go to school and still find time for swimming and ballet (she is desperate to go and hasn't yet) and practising riding her new bike (a bit of an intense and anxious activity)? And for sitting about making up stories and doing drawings? And going to museums and parks and seeing friends?

Hi Aranea... it is great to find someone who feels the same...

The thing is when I look at photos of my dd from years gone by I realise that even though I love my dd more each day every time I breath I do deeply miss bits from each phase that has passed. I miss her tiny newborn body completely dependent on me, those first smiles, kicking her legs in the air crazily in love with what they could do, her pre crawling 'lizarding'across the livingroom and her tottering in such a funny way when she was just walking to name but a few things...

I love the idea of being a Mum to a little Parisian school girl and love feeling and seeing her develop and grow and become her own self... but also I know I will deeply miss my fun loving, funny, carefree living life to the max toddler too.

teafortwo - I feel exactly the same. Exactly. Although don't have living in Paris to comfort me. It is a really crappy thing though, the loss of our free days with our children, the loss of the wandering and hanging out. The start of the rat race for them.

tea, that's how I am as well.
We've had a fantastic time baking, swimming, curling up with a film and all sorts as and when it suits.
Really, having DD home with me has been among the best years of my life.
You lose them a little bit when they start school.

We're going in to have a little parent teacher consultation thing tomorrow. DD comes too and gets to meet teacher again and see where her peg will be etc.
Big day on monday.

I hadn't even thought of breaking the shoes in. Perhaps she should wear them around the house for a bit tomorrow.

I've been feeling nostalgic over old photos too. She was so gorgeous and quirky and curly-headed. And I do really miss the days when I didn't feel I ought to push her to do anything she didn't much feel like.

I am relishing every second I can with dd2 (10 months) and already feeling rather desperate that every stage that slips past is gone forever.

'loss' is just the right word, newspaper.

Oh God

Will end up pregnant by morning at this rate!

Pinktulip (I hope I have your name right) I've just read your post on the other thread and I could have written that myself. My ds1 had his first day in reception today. He didn't do any drawing. He didn't do any reading. He didn't play with anyone. All he did all day, from 9:00 - 3:15 was eat a banana and have some milk. That's all I can get out of him

Little monkeys.

I was wondering how those with littluns who have had their first days recently and had packed lunches, how they got on. Once I got home at 4pm and looked in ds1's lunch box I noticed he hadn't touched it. All his food and drink was still there. All he had all day since 7am was his cereal and a banana and milk at school. Has anyone else's children not eaten much on the first day? Was it being overwhelmed by everything? No-one mentioned it to me at the school either. I thought they kept an eye on them at lunch, especially being so small.

For some reason, it really upset me the thought of him not eating all day. As I dropped him off, the last thing he said to me was "Can I have my sandwiches now?" and for him to not touch them just doesn't sound right. I will be asking the teachers in the morning about it.

oh God do ask the teachers. I'd be upset too. Very.

Lip quivers again.

definitely ask about the uneaten lunch

can he open the box himself and is it wrapped in stuff he can open?

Good point Eldon. [My 6th form class was Eldon]
My dd said a few times she didn't eat her yogurt tube because she couldn't open it and the teacher didn't hear her asking, at playschool.
She also struggles with straws - taking the plastic off mainly. Then fiddling with the little foil hole.

Poor lambs. I don't want her to go! Am emotional tonight.

"Really, having DD home with me has been among the best years of my life." - paisleyleaf...

ditto!!!

Chochobnob - sounds a little odd to me too. Talk with the teacher tomorrow I bet there is some not so frightening reason for that happening and they will make sure it doesn't happen again!

I put everything in little tubs with really easy lids to take off for that exact reason lol So he didn't have to fiddle with packets or ask anyone to open them for him. I also made sure I got him a flask which has a lid which he can undo really easily. This morning we packed his lunch together. He had a fiddle with the tubs and flasks again because I was worried about him not being able to get to his food. He opened and closed them and told me which order he was going to eat it in. I even made him his own little tub of jelly which he was really looking forward to and he didn't touch it.

He might have struggled with the actual zip on the lunch bag as it's a bit tough but I would have thought the dinner ladies/ teaching assistants would have at least ensured all children had actually opened their lunch bags! I'm hoping it was something else, like he was too busy or he had something else to eat.

Maybe he tucked into a big school dinner.

Thats a great idea about getting them to pack up with you and show you opening and order etc.

Let us know what you find out.

I did wonder if they might have asked him where his lunch bag is and he said he didn't have one, so they took him off to have a cooked lunch lol

But he said all he had all day was a banana and milk. Although he also told me the teacher told him he wasn't allowed to eat his dinner, his lunch bag disappeared, lunch was stupid, he couldn't remember why he didn't have lunch etc etc. Such a lovely age when trying to get facts out of them.

I have a friend who says the way to get children to talk is to pretend to be on the phone. SHe says she gets no end of chatter from them then

Your friend is a genius

Oh ChocHobNob you've made me cry! I can't bear to think of him not getting his jelly! I do hope you get some clues from the staff.

Wow, I'm glad dd1 will be having school dinners. It feels a lot less emotional somehow I think.

By the way, do you know this poem by Roger McGough?

Oh my. AM officially howling now. That poem really highlights how much we assume children know. Like the schools assuming we know what P.E. shorts to get. We assume they will know what a classroom is.

Oh God. Am in hormone overdrive.

Our autumn menu is online. I'm printing it off, will have a sit down with her ladyship tommorow and let her choose which days school dinners which days packed lunch. For the first while anyway. The menu looks yum! here if anyone wants a nosey.

Still have a nearly 2 weeks to go though.

Oh god now Im crying buckets now as well over that poem.

My DS starts on monday from 9-3 and although he is more than ready I really really am not ready to lose him yet. All my friends are so happy that they are getting rid of their children (their exact words lol!) for 6 hours a day and cannot understand why Im so damn upset about it all.

I spent the first 2 years of his life wishing it away almost because I had pnd and now Im enjoying every single second of it he is being taken away from me...so to speak!

Aww Hobnob hope you find out why he didn't get to eat his dinner...I would also be very shocked about that. I really want ds to have school dinners but cannot find out what the menu is...have e-mailed school and our county council but have had no answer yet so am sending packed lunch on first day and then go from there.

Am now off to watch a dvd with him on the sofa cause its chucking it down outside then we are off to shops to get some stuff to make cakes this afternoon...feel like Im trying to enjoy every single moment!

So did anyone start today?

Yes DS started today
Put the uniform on fine, was quite keen to get into the classroom
School was complete madness as 2/3 people had also brought their husband

I didn't cry but wore waterproof mascara just in case. DD (2.5) got upset but he's only doing a half day so he'll be back soon enough