So here it is, my
first ever blog and to be honest, the topic chose itself….Ellie has started
school and I am already wondering quite how I’m going to balance everything.
I remember the moment
just few days ago when I’d finally finished sticking and ironing on name labels
for Ellie's school clothes, shoes and bags – I felt pure relief that the final
thing on the preparing for school
checklist was done. In the end this final task was actually fairly simple….ok
so the first label is more melted on than ironed on, but it's
hardly noticeable. It does of course remain to be seen if the
labels stay on and if they prevent things getting lost. I've
heard several times now that Ellie is unlikely to still have all of her things
by the end of the first term and quite likely to have other children's things.
This mysterious phenomenon apparently includes bags and shoes - oh
joy!
Anyway, there’s no denying the fact that once the relief passed I felt a
mixture of excitement about Ellie starting school, shock that she really is school
age now and if I'm honest…. terror at the growing feeling that balancing
working full time with being mum to a schoolchild is going to be harder (yes
harder!) than it's been as mum to a pre-schooler.
The tone was set when I went for the new parents welcome evening at the
school and it quickly became clear that I needed to find a way, alongside
working, to fit a home visit from the teacher and TA, visit to school with
Ellie to try on uniform and three separate short school settling in sessions
into a three week period at the start of the summer. All of this came with well
under three weeks’ notice. (It's worth remembering that it's 9.00 to
3.15....you can't just pop in on your way to or from work.)
Next, I had a conversation with a teacher who explained they do
occasionally do things 'off the cuff' so parents might get late notice of
things going on. I did of course politely point out that there's
every chance I won't be able to join 'the off the cuff brigade'. I was
reassured that it was fine but somehow I didn't feel any better.
Then there is sharing morning, the weekly event where
parents go into the classroom at the start of the school day and spend time
looking at their child's work. Just to clarify - this happens once a week,
every week. I've already roped the childminder and grandparents into this, but
even so - I can't help but feel that I'm not there for my little girl because I
won't be able to go every week or even every other week.
So here's the thing, I do want to be involved with Ellie's education, I
do want to get to know the school, I'm lucky in that my work are really
flexible, but there is no doubt that being a working mum to a school child feels
like a whole new era of challenge.
As I finish this first blog entry it’s the end of Ellie’s third day at
school (well half day, since she’s mornings only for the first month) and she’s
fortunately settling in just fine. With a pinch of luck, a great child minder
and the necessity of getting on with it, we seem to have come fairly unscathed
through the first few days. I was able to take and collect Ellie on her first
day but not since and when you hear other mum’s talking about collecting their
child daily it is difficult not to feel a twinge of guilt. My saving grace is
as always my gorgeous daughter who seems to think that the both the childminder
and school are fun! Maybe, just maybe Ellie’s not nearly as bothered about my
not being at the school gate as I am.
So there it is…my first ever attempt at a blog. I’d love to know what you think so please
send me a message either on here or via twitter: www.twitter.com/sharonmsmyth
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