The day is coming. One that I needed to prepare for. One that I am not prepared for at all.
I look back, to when your brothers were small and we set them on their path. Nursery, full time. Six months old.
They were happy, we were happy. Life was busy, our careers; careering perhaps, but seldom dull.
It couldn’t last. Too busy, too much: too little time. And so, we changed and I stopped the careering.
Stayed still, with you.
With your brothers too, of course. But they were off, school and activities, busy being busy.
So, mostly, just with you.
I look at you. Three years and five months old.
So ready for the next stage. So ready for that big leap. Preschool.
Confident, articulate. Sociable.
But, I worry. Have I done enough to prepare you? You haven’t been to nursery. You have never been left with strangers.
The boys were six months, it became their norm within days. No tears, no fighting.
You. Three and a half and so excited. But, I will miss you mummy.
You have such a wonderful vocabulary, you know your numbers, shapes and colours.
You can tell them all about orangutans and giant squid and spider monkey’s prehensile tails.
But.
You insist your name begins with P (you know it doesn’t, you just think it’s funny) and you draw your brothers head when we ask you to write your initial.
You make up your own words to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
You prefer to shout rockin’ dudes ladies and air guitar than sing Old MacDonald.
I haven’t taught you all your nursery rhymes. You’re more likely to sing about bagels in a box.
I haven’t sat and made you learn all your alphabet. You’re more likely to disappear and make me a present using all the glue, sparkly things and magic tape you can find.
You can hold a conversation with an adult, hold your own with your brothers, and charm the pants off anyone.
But.
Will you manage to sit still, or will you insist on demonstrating your latest interpretive dance moves?
Will you listen, when you should, not just when you want to?
Will you play nicely, take turns and share?
I worry that I haven’t prepared you at all. And, I worry that I haven’t prepared myself.
I will miss you.
You drive me nuts. Never giving me a minute alone. Certainly never a minute of silence.
But, it will be so quiet without you.
I know that you will love it. I am so excited for you, little girl. This next big adventure. So much to do, so much to learn.
You are extrovert, funny and engaging. And, overwhelming, demanding and challenging.
So.
You need it. You need the structure. You need to be challenged. You need to learn to be in a group, not just stand out in one.
And, maybe you will head off without a backward glance, settle in without a care, and I will wonder what on earth I was worried about. Or maybe we’ll have to work to get you there.
Whatever happens, it’s a journey we’ll take together.
I just hope I have done enough. To prepare us both.
You can find this weeks #ThePrompt linky here. I do hope this week’s prompt inspired you; I look forward to reading your posts.
How lovely. It sounds like you are both on your way to being prepared for the changes. I hope all goes smoothly.
Thank you, I’m sure it will, it’s just so different than it was with the boys x
Love this. So poignant. From the way you describe her vibrant character Sara, I am certain your little girl will enjoy her new experience at nursery and not look back. Now you have to enjoy yours and look forward ;-) xxxx
Thank you Emma x I will enjoy it, just hope those first few days go okay :)
Oh this is so poignant and beautiful Sara. She sounds like such a bundle of fun and energy – just how she looks in her photographs too. It also sounds as though you’ve done an amazing job with her. I’m certain they will all LOVE her at nursery. I’m sure she is ready, whether you will be, is a matter that only time can tell. Best of luck! xx
Thank you Suzanne, she really is :) Part of me is really looking forward to the break, but it feels much harder with her than it did with the boys x
We’re writing about the same thing, just slightly different circumstances. Beautiful post Sara, I’m not sure we’ll ever be ready x
Thank you Iona, I’m sure we’ll be okay, eventually!
As always a beautiful post for The Prompt Sara. Of course you have done enough, you’ve done MORE than enough. Sounds like the wee girl is very ready for pre-school. Wishing her lots of luck with starting. I’m sure you will enjoy the break :) Hugs xxxx
Thank you Renee, I’m sure I will :)
I’m totally sure you did enough. You did the best you could, after all. I however do understand sending a child off to preschool is hard.
Thank you Astrid, you’re right, we do the best we can x
Beautiful, Sara. I’m sure you’ve done more than enough to prepare her – she sounds like a very confident little girl xx #ThePrompt
That she is, it’s such a big step for her though. And for me! I know she’ll be fine, she’ll be running the place within days :)
It’s such a questionable time isn’t it. Even though G has been in nursery 3 days a week from 8 months I still worry that we haven’t done enough to prepare him for school. I’m sure your girl at 3.5 will be just fine a more than ready when school starts as she’ll be that bit older. #theprompt
That is very true, she’ll have two years at preschool before going into Kindergarten, by which time she’ll be more than ready. I just worry a little about those first few days next week when she’s suddenly in class for a whole day…!
Maybe you’re not prepared but be prepared to be so proud of her when she takes to pre-school like a confident duck to water :) x
Thank you Lisa, I will be, I’m sure x
I think your little one is more than enough ready for the new challenge. Why is it we mums are the ones who are too worried for them?! It’s like we don’t want to let them go, to let them grow. Hope he would enjoy nursery and settle in quick! #SundayStars
It’s funny, because I’ve always been one to look forward, but I’m finding it harder this time round.
I loved this- so sweet. And don’t worry, I’m a kindergarten teacher and I’d say it’s our job to teach kids most of the things your worried about your tot not being able to do yet. She’ll pick it up and find her way in no time, I bet.
#anythinggoes
I know she will, she’s nothing if not quick, I suppose you always feel you could have done a bit more!
This so beautifully describes the second – or third – child! So full of life, energy and doing what they can to keep up with their older siblings, whilst not knowing many nursery rhymes or knowing all the alphabet because there’s too many distractions!
I’m sure you and her brothers have prepared her well, she’ll hold her own and make friends quickly. I hope you’re prepared for the silence. That’s the bit I’m not prepared for…
#ThePrompt
xx
Exactly, I don’t have the time (or energy)! But, she learns so much from her brothers. I’m looking forward to the silence, but I’m really worried I’m going to hate it!
oh how emotional! I can’t even begin to imagine how I will feel when my girls go off to school. Good luck to you and her! #twinklytuesday
Thank you, it’s a big step!
I’m a bit like this with EJ (who starts pre-school tomorrow). He has been going to our childminder’s one day a week for a while but pre-school is a much more structured environment so I wonder how he’ll find it. Again like the wee girl I’ve never really taught him nursery rhymes or done any of those ‘standard’ things you do with your first child. I feel pretty unprepared for everything right now – I haven’t even got JJ to try on his old school shoes to see if they still fit and he goes back to school on Thursday! I’m pretty sure they will all be fine. My sister was a stay at home mum to both her two and she was very worried for how they would fit in away from her and in a structured institutional environment but they have thrived (my eldest niece has just got an A* and eight As and two Bs in her GCSEs if that’s anything to go by :-) ) Xx Thanks for linking up Sara Xx #thetruthabout
I think that’s it, she’s really just always fitted in with everyone else, and there are so many distractions, so I’ve not done quite the same things with her. And, she’s not very good at ‘structure’ so I think that’s probably what worries me most…
Oh Sara, this brought a lump to my throat. Your little lady sounds like such a colourful little character. I’m sure she will put a smile on the face of her new-found friends and ‘teachers’ (or whatever you call them!). All the very best with this next stage :) #TruthAbout
She certainly is :) Exhausting, but wonderful! Thank you Carol x
Aw this is beautiful! I’m sure she’ll be fine and love it! Good luck to you both x #wineandboobs
Thank you x
What a lovely post. From the description here, your daughter sounds like a great little character, and I’m sure she will fit in just fine :)
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
She is definitely a character :) Thank you, and thank you for hosting x
She sounds amazing. I think I will feel the same when preschool time comes. I’m sure the kid who knows about giant squids and plays air guitar is destined to be the coolest kid there, though! Lovely post. Hope the start of preschool goes well. #wineandboobs
That’s what I’m hoping :) Thank you x
Awww sweet! I can feel your sentiment. Exactly how I feel with my son when he started school and now that he will go back. Its bittersweet. #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you Merlinda x
Awww, how sweet.
We do what we can to prepare them… to prepare ourselves. It’s still an unnerving time when change comes round but to know we’ve done what we can, makes it easier.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
It is a big change, but I know it will be fine. Just need to get through those first few days x
This is so lovely. I’m sure you’ve done more preparing than you even realise. I can’t imagine how hard it must be when the time comes for pre-school when all they’ve ever known is being with you – mine’s only eight months and the thought of sending her to nursery already fills me with dread. I’m sure it will go great for both of you – good luck! x
Thank you, first day next week… I’m just hoping it goes okay x
Beautiful! Hope it all goes well and will be thinking of you. It’s a new chapter in your lives and going to pre-school will be “preparing” you both for starting school.
Thanks for linking up to #SundayStars
That it is, the structure will be good for her and the break good for me. Such a big change!
Aww she sounds like she has such a wonderfully adventurous and playful personality. It’s such an end to an era and start of a whole new big one but I hope the next milestone brings with it just as many wonderful and happy moments xx
She really has, and I know she’ll be fine, but it will be a huge change, for both of us!
This is lovely – BB starts school on Monday and I feel exactly the same x #MyFavouritePost
It’s hard isn’t it, so exciting but bittersweet x
Aaah this is lovely Sara. And, to be honest, wouldn’t you *much* rather meet a kid that plays air guitar than sings nursery rhymes? I know I would ;) Thanks so much for linking up with us — hope to see you next time :) #TwinklyTuesday
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
O how, they grow … I can’t get my head around it. What lovely memories you have leading up to this milestone, and what incredible memories awaits as you move beyond it. :-) #CommentLuv