Revisiting The Kindergarten Story

Time for a catch up to add to my Kindergarten series, I think. I’m quite unwell whilst writing, so thought I’d do this in point form.

Week #1 : We had two sessions of 2 hrs duration. Parents stayed. This was a lovely way to meet some Mums and get to see how the Director and Assistant operate. Charlotte stuck close to me.

Week#2 : Two 3 hr sessions. Parents could stay or leave. I was surprised at how many left. I invited a lost looking little one to join us at our play. She and Charlotte forged a friendship. I was very pleased.

Week # 3 : Full 5 hr sessions for the two days. Both days Charlotte gradually let go of me and I was able to go off to do my own thing after a couple of hours. Home to do my work for part of the time. Other than the rostered parent I was the only Mum that stayed around.

A Gentle Transition Required

It was and is my full intention to allow Charlotte to make the moves away from me with encouragement of course. The Director and Assistant of the Kinder are WONDERFUL and fine about me being there. I guess for them, it means an extra set of eyes around the place and it’s reminding me of how much I do enjoy being with children.

Charlotte hasn’t ever been in childcare other than with people close to us, so I’m in for the long haul if necessary. I also have VERY strong memories of my first day at preschool in Wales. Not a pretty picture and I always promised I wouldn’t leave my own children kicking and screaming.

I Blew My Only Chance

Week #4 : What a fizzer. Charlotte wasn’t her usual self to start with, so She was feeling somewhat more attached to me anyway. I blew my only chance on the first day of this week. As I was about to head off, I noticed one of Charlotte’s paintings up on the wall on its own for all to see. The one I was about to collect from the box on my way out. Being the proud Mum, I stopped to take a photo. Why couldn’t I have waited? I think in retrospect I was so surprised that I didn’t stop to think and I also didn’t want to forget to take a pic and that possibly could have happened with the hustle and bustle at pickup time.

In the short time it took to take the photo, Charlotte had moved away from playing and She stood holding my leg, forlornly asking me to stay. So, I did. I removed myself from time to time from Charlotte’s presence, but I spent the whole time at Kinder. We left early because She really was out of sorts and fast asleep in a nanno second once we hit the road towards home.

Week #5 : that’d be this week. I was too unwell to take Charlotte today and given She hasn’t settled in yet, I wasn’t prepared to ask anyone else to take her. Tomorrow, I am the rostered parent on and I nominated to do one 5 hr stint instead of two sessions. If I’m not feeling much better, it could be a long session. At least Charlotte will happily get ready to go knowing that I’m there for the whole time.

How did you get your child/children settled into Kindergarten? I’m sure there are many scenarios out there. Multitudes of them given we all have our unique way of Mothering.

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