So your baby is going to school…here is what you need to know! – Mummascribbles

It’s been just a few weeks since a whole new bunch of parents received those emails that finally came through after the hundredth time of refreshing – the one telling them whether their child got into the school of their choice.

Just over a year ago that was me refreshing my emails. We got our first choice school, Zach went off in September, and a year later we are about to start the final half term before the last few weeks of reception. In just 8 short weeks (and by god do they fly by!), we will be waving goodbye to reception and getting ready for the reality of year one to hit. Can’t wait for that!

And so, I thought I would take this time to prepare all you new school mums for what is to come. For those of you who are going through this for the first time, here is what I have learnt from (almost) a year of being a school mum.

Don’t expect the tears to kick in straight away

Most schools have a settling in period (note that some don’t and just throw the little souls into full time hours from the start). Ours had half days for two weeks before they started full time. And they also had a gradual intake with more children being introduced into class throughout the first week. Zach was there on the first day and there I was, all cocky with my happy child on day one, and on day two, and on day three…and so on. Oh man did he settle into school immediately – not a tear from him throughout the whole settling in period. And then week three hit. We were half way through his first week of full time hours and it seemed to sink in at this point that this was it, this was the reality. School from 8.45-3.15 every single weekday. And the tears began. Not just tears but full on meltdown at the gates. Full on meltdown outside class. And on one morning, full on meltdown as we left home. On that morning, I literally had to drag him there, it was awful.

I am pleased to say that it didn’t last forever. It felt like it did, but in reality, it only lasted a few days. And by the following week, we were back to having our happy and keen schoolboy. Over the last eight months, I have seen several other children crying at random times. Some before school and some after school. But I haven’t seen any in full on meltdown so it does tend to be something that most of them stop.

Don’t think that going in and joining them for things are going to be easy

I was so excited when I got the first invite to something. It was to join Zach for lunch and he was super excited that Oscar and I would be going into his school. All was going super duper well until it was time for us to leave. Absolute meltdown!

From that moment, I have expected tears every time I have gone in for something, and every single time I have been right to expect them. There was the school assembly that Daddy also came to, and Zach (and several other children) were inconsolable when we all had to leave. And then more recently, there was the afternoon tea. Now with this, I thought it would be ok – it was the afternoon, leading right up until home-time. Surely there would be no tears.

Wrong!

When he realised that we would have to walk out and round to the playground, whilst he went back to class to get his stuff and leave safely under the watchful eye of his teacher, he started crying. I couldn’t believe it! I am hoping that over time this does improve because it makes going into school really blooming hard.

The tiredness is unreal

I will first say that it does get better. Those first few weeks though, were shocking. My boy was absolutely exhausted. And with the exhaustion came a lot of bad attitude. Gosh it was a hard time. Like I say though, it has got easier. Come Thursday/Friday, he is still extremely tired, but for the first part of the week, he is much better. I can safely say that by the time half terms and end of terms come round, he is well and truly ready for a bit of a rest! Although that doesn’t stop me from packing a week’s half term full of fun haha!

They are really hungry

All the time. Seriously, do not turn up to the school gates without a snack else they’ll be biting off your hands!

Even though he has a snack straight after school, he generally wants another on the way home, and then once we are home, it is request after request after request for some kind of food. It might be a sandwich, toast, a scone, fruit. He just wants all the food. And then he wolfs down his dinner too most of the time. Be prepared for your child coming home starving from day one!

They come out with stuff that are totally not them

It is safe to say, that all of the hard work you have put in to make sure they are polite and lovely children who don’t know any swear words (don’t worry, I know you have muttered ffs under your breath on numerous occasions!), is all very quickly undone when they start school. Suddenly you are no longer their only influence, and in fact, since they spend way longer with their school friends than you on a daily basis, it’s easy to see why they come under such influence. Zach has come out with the f-bomb on several occasions to my horror. At the beginning I made out like it didn’t really mean anything, but when I realised that he knew that wasn’t true, I told him off if I heard it. I don’t care where he hears it, I don’t care who else says it. He doesn’t. Because he is five years old and there is just no need for him to be saying it. Simples!

It’s not just swears though. He comes out with random other stuff that I have never heard him say before, like Oooh la la (repeatedly), and when I question him it’s, “oh, such and such says it”.

They come home with weird songs and new dances

The Floss is the latest craze hitting the school playground and Zach has been desperately trying to learn it off his mate Harry, who I must say, can do it exceptionally well! But as well as these dance moves, he comes home with the most irritating songs that basically make no ruddy sense. I have to just nod and pretend I think it’s really awesome, because most of the time I have no blooming idea what he is singing about. It makes total sense to him though!

You are going to get A LOT of emails

I read this on someone’s post last year and was sure that our school wouldn’t be like that. WRONG. The emails pop through every single day, several times a day. Reminders about this and that, info about this and that. Corrections to the previous email that you received just two minutes earlier! Yep, your inbox will be pinging a lot, so be warned!

There is a lot to remember

World Book Day, World Book Day take 2 when it snows on the first attempt! School fairs, assemblies, bake sales, Easter egg tombolas, book fairs, random dress up days in exchange for a donation of wine for the summer fayre! There are times when I have all these things to remember and I need a diary just to document school reminders!

And finally

School is awesome

Yep. Despite the emotions, the crazy dances and the constant emails – school is ruddy awesome.

Zach went in barely being able to write his name and now he sits at home writing cards and letters. He could recognise letters but couldn’t read a fully formed word – now he can read lots of words, and quite often he surprises me with what he can recognise and what he can also sound out. And then there is all the other stuff they learn too. Just in the last week, he has come home with a song about adding up numbers. He is learning so, so much. He is thriving in the environment, with his friends, with his learning. I am so, so proud of him.