Thursday 11 August 2011

Milestones


There comes a time when change prevails. All of a sudden, something slaps you in the face, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Today is one of those days. A bitter-sweet one for any parent who has watched their child grow from the moment he calmly arrived into the world to the tinny strains of Simon and Garfunkel on Hospital FM! From (not so) tiny newborn, to a crawling spinach-loving grub of a baby. From tearaway toddler (whose favourite pastime was climbing), to an inquisitive nursery schooler who loved his first real friends and teachers (and still misses his first ever best friend Eric - another of the hazards of a transient expat life), to this particular day - when my not so Small Boy starts "Big" School!

We bade a fond farewell to preschool in the middle of July. His first introduction to International School life in Denmark was thankfully a success. For months when we first arrived, I tried to get him into a Danish school, with the reasoning that any exposure to another language is good, but some of the schools I saw were not the best (to put it mildly), and the few I loved then of course didn't have space. I even toyed with the idea of a forest school which would have seen him outside all day everyday, learning in a forest environment (which appealed to the hippy in me), but then the snow set in for almost 4 months, and I just couldn't do that to my poor English baby.

I visited a lovely Steiner School where I sat by candlelight to discuss my child with a kind and motherly lady who offered him a place (but was horrified that my older child was in an academic school, so felt she should have a place too!). I decided against it in the end, partially because we didn't know where we would end up next, and a more academic start might stand him in good stead for the next school in another country. Plus with no English speakers amongst the staff or the pupils, explaining the calm and quiet Steiner ethics to a non-Danish speaking toddler may have proved ineffectual!

I perservered until eventually I found this friendly little school that welcomed him with open arms. For just over a year, he had a great introduction to his school life! The teachers are so lovely, patient and kind, and at the end of it all it was very sad to say goodbye.

I know we aren't here for much longer and they will both be at new schools in a new country very soon, but despite this, today is still a milestone for him, and one for me too. Time flies and all that...

15 comments:

  1. he looks too little still to be going to big school...little wee thing! I have a photo of my daughter in back pack just the same, it's the backpack that makes them seem all so grown up. I think academic schooling is a good thing when you are about to go to America, the forward thinking Scandanavian well I can't imagine travels well.

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  2. My son went on a day trip with his child minder today - the furtherest distance he's been from us, without one of us. It made me very reflective. They grow so quick! Time does fly.
    I so hope we find a school as nice at friendly little school - you have been very lucky

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  3. Thanks both! Kellogsville, he does doesn't he!! xx

    Gemma fingers crossed for you, I am sure you will! Emma :) xx

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  4. I hope his first day went well for him. It certainly does pull at the heartstrings when they start school... Love his packback, think we got some matching wellingtons...

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  5. They grow up so fast, I remember writing a post like this last year for Mini and one the year before for Maxi. I love the holidays so much as they are with me. The one thing I would say is don't worry about the school, if it isn't right you can always change it.

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  6. Thanks Frankie, he had a great day! Oooh will have to get on the M&S website to see if they still have the wellies!

    Thanks The MadHouse! They do don't they :( Thanks for the advice, you are right about the school thing! Enjoy the rest of the hols! :)

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  7. Oh, bless. We had a first day at big school this week too. Its a huge step and a very important milestone. Good luck to your not-so-little one!!

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  8. Thanks Kitty, hope your little one got on well too! Emma xx

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  9. lovely pic-what a milestone!! it's one thing starting them off in their own country where they DO speak the language, but a foreign country where they don't even speak the language is more terrifying i think!

    i can't believe the school choice you have there, we have to go to the one closest, that's how they work in France, so that's what we do!

    really glad u seem to have found one that is nice and friendly!

    lots of love, tamsyn xxx

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  10. Ah bless, how exciting (if a bit teary!). Seems that searching for the right school is a headache no matter what country you are in! Good luck - enjoy your new-found freedom :)

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  11. It is indeed... Thank you Rachel :)

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  12. Really interesting to read about the different options, love the sound of forest school, although glad you gave us the reality too. wishing you both well for the new start, L starts in 3 weeks, eeek!

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  13. such a lovely post, emma! i was with you, from the first line to the last. i see my daughter reach a new milestone and suddenly leave it behind to reach for a new one, and sometimes, i wish i could slow it all down.
    good luck to your 'little' boy!

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  14. @Alexander Residence, thank you! The forest school was so lovely, especially in the summer! Thank you for your good luck wishes, and will be thinking of you in 3 weeks!! Emma :)

    Thank you so much Pia, that's really kind of you! Emma :)

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I love your comments - thank you :)

 
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