Oh! Oh! My firstborn starts secondary school in September. Surely that warrants a support thread?

[Cadelaide]

Am I a bit too early for this?

I mean it's months away yet, isn't it?

DD went to school, having age 4 years in her uniform. I'm looking forward to hearing all about it. But it did hit me that she will be independent now.

I only have one baby left (and she's at Juniors now).

DD started today - they all looked so cute in their uniforms

Now I'm worrying that she will come home saying she doesn't like her form and hasn't made any friends. Still, only 2 hours to wait!

Yes, gorionine , he can catch the bus from just round the corner, and it takes him to the school.

Today DS1 has been quit stropy & contrary with us all, which I think is a good thing, as it shows that it's time for him to go back to school.

Well ds went off this morning- met a friend at the bus stop at 8am.
As soon as he got his travel card he was off on the bus- he goes to Kingston on his own or with friends.
He will also be going to Saturday football on the bus- which frees me up on a Saturday morning at last.
I don't worry about him at all- I really don't think it's worth getting in a state over.
Gorionine- why are you losing sleep- sorry if I've missed something earlier in this thread.
They will all be fine [reassuring face}

I took dd this morning and she clung to my arm!
Staff were on the gate inspecting the uniform and getting kids to remove earrings and lengthen skirts!

When dd had to leave me, she looked pnaic striken for a moment or two but the confidently strode off ready for registration.

She hasn't said much about her day yet, I get the feeling she wasn't very impressed but at least she doesn't hate it!

Yes dinosaur, they are at the same school then!
Dd told me her class name, think it's lsc1 (I think), wonder if they are in same class?

Ok.
I hope he had a good day. I've asked dd about her day but she isn't giving hardly any information away so I stopped asking. She has since told me her form room and was impressed I knew it's on the 3rd floor. She also said they are having a fire drill practice on Monday.

Wonder what else they did today, she might tell me at some point but I won't force her to talk about her day

Ds' blazer is huge! We have most of the uniform apart from the PE kit, he's even had a hair cut!

I hope all of yours are well

Well DD had a great day, despite an initial confusion over which tutor group she was in.

She told me all about her day and is really enthusiastic after being pretty nervous before.

I am so relieved.

But it was only the first day

Lynnette, you mean your DS has only been stroppy for one day of the holiday.
I wish!

Kid - my DS1 is also at the same school as your DD. If she is in LS1 then your DD and my DS are in the same form. DS's socks failed the uniform test - but he was just impressed that they gave him a free pair! He's enjoyed his day - he's mainly talked talked about his bacon sandwich and the library.

Ds is very impressed about the birds on the school crest.

thecheesealarm it's a small world!
Dd is in bed now (you'd hope so at 1:30am) but I reckon it's ls1. I can't imagine there being an ls1 and lsc1.
Dd's name starts with K. She said there weren't many boys in her class.

Glad you ds got a free pair of socks rather than being sent home. What was wrong with his socks?
Did you take him in this morning? The queue was huge, but I doubt it will be like that every morning.

Hi Kid - DS1's name begins with O. He's hopeless with names, he can't remember what anyone in his form is called!

His socks had committed the cardinal sin of being navy blue rather than grey!

His Dad and DS2 took him, they rang to tell me just about the queue.

DS1 is very good at telling what he's done - just not at who was there - although he seems to have been very taken with his form teacher - he not only knew what she was called but gave me a lovely description of her dress!

Dd doesn't remember anyones name either!
maybe he will remember her as she is the smallest in the class and has blonde hair.

Deaddei, I am just a bit stressed, not on anything in particular mind but as I do not want to pass my stress onto her I usually wonder half the night how will hor first day be. As I said she is exited so all should go fine I am pretty sure once the first day is over I will return to normal

a friend of DD1 who lived a couple of bus stops away has called to ask if she can come to ours on the first day to take the bus with her which all parties seem to be happy with! DD also meat a girl on the park yesterday and they got on really well. It turn out she goes to the same high school and will be in the same house (but two years above DD1). I saw the girl and also older than dd she seems very down to earth and polite etc, it sounds a stupid thing to say but it reassures me to see pupils my daughter will be in contact with are nice.

On the coat front, after hours of research (she will really need something warmer than the blazer for the winter) we finally found a nice simple black coat in Tesco, the smallest size available in the woman section! I do not know why it took me so long to thingk about that!

Nice to see all went well for the ones who have already stared

Ds starts tomorrow and has managed to lose his (very full) pencil case!!!! Arghhh.........

Omg, I am totally stressed out about dd going to school by herself. I am trying to tell myself that she will be fine. We walked the route again tonight and she said she is 'kind of okay with the directions!'
kind of? That's not good enough! She needs to reassure me even if I am the adult and she is the child lol

I seriously don't know what to do. Ds has to be in school by 8 (breakfast club) dd has to be in by 8:30 and I have to be in work by 8:30

I just don't know if I can let her walk all the way from home. I think I'd feel better if I drive her half way and then rush to work myself.
I know I am going to have the worst nights sleep ever tonight, but I am trying to sound confident to dd even though I don't feel confident inside.

How far is it kid? Would a map help? Are there not lots of other children heading in the same direction.

I am sure she will be fine.

i am sure she will be fine too, but its a mums job to worry, isn't it?

I think I will drop her off halfway there. That way, she won't be too early and she won't get lost and there aren't too many roads to cross and we can look out for others heading in the same direction.

I think I will start off doing that and then after a week or so, she should have made some friends to walk along with or at least be confident to walk by herself.

She still has to get to DS's school at the end of the day and there is nothing I can do to make that any easier.
I think others will be walking that way too, but I don't know who at the moment.

She really is tiny and really doesn't look old enough to be going secondary school.

I have been sensible enough to keep my fears away from her. The last thing I want is for her to be having nightmares about getting there safely. Besides, I am doing enough worrying for both of us!

I think dropping her half way is a good compromise, kid. I wish her and yourself a great day!

Thanks gorionine.
I do think that will be a good idea as she will still be experiencing walking on her own, I can get to work and she can get to school just a bit early.

I'll let her know in the morning whats happening. I don't remember things being so complicated when I went to secondary school! She is at my old secondary school and we live in the same area that I lived as a child.