Sending all the hugs and smiles to all the Mums and Dads who have a little one taking the big first steps today.
I hope they skip in, wondering why Silly Mummy is being a big eejit.
Tonight, I’m a little bit more emotional than usual.
Tomorrow, my little Mini Me will be taking her first steps into the big bad world without Mammy or Daddy.
Now I am fully aware that starting Pre-school is not quite the same as starting School School, but for the first time ever, I can empathise with all of the “Starting school” parents. I can’t even begin to fathom how I’m going to feel this time next year when I’m packing her school bag for Baby infants.
It’s a typical last Sunday night in August. For 30 years, it’s been a dreaded Sunday night because it marks the first day back at school for this Teacher Mum. I never actually left the education system, so it’s routine by now. Every year, I insist on going out somewhere for the day. I refuse to cook dinner. I try to get an early night. But this year, it’s not about me. It’s about Mini-Me.
Her new outfit is perfectly pressed and hanging in the bedroom. I have everything that she needs laid out for the morning. The table is already set for breakfast. She’s been read a special storybook that Daddy found online about her first day at pre-school and has been tucked in to dream of fairies and muddy puddles.
And I’m trying not to think about the fact that tomorrow is yet another first in my baby’s life.
And while tomorrow she is only starting Pre-school, it is indeed a big deal for our little family and for my little Princess. Yes, it might be just another day, but it’s one that we’ll remember forever. Yes, it’s going to be emotional, but it’s good emotion.
PS. This has been going around in my head all day.
When he left the door.
Och the poor wee man!
Wi’ his toes turned in.
Still his head turned back.
An’, maybe, so was I.