The Kindergarten Year

Well, this is the year that Charlotte starts Kindergarten. I’ve written a series of posts about my journey to finding the most suitable place for my little girl, so it seems fitting to write about where I am at with it all.

In a nutshell, I’m not looking forward to the whole experience one bit. I’m making sure that I speak in an uplifting manner with Charlotte, though and She tells me She’s excited about going, so that’s good. I don’t seem to be transferring my feelings.

Routine Is Not My Forte

Reasons for not looking forward to it. Well, I really KNOW and it has become very apparent to me recently that I am not a routine kind of gal. Having to be up and at ‘em and getting Charlotte to kinder on time is going to be a tough call.

I am trying my best to look positively at this. I intend getting up early on the two days, showered, dressed & breakfast overwith before Charlotte arises. Trouble is, She has an uncanny knack of knowing I’m not in bed and wakes up not long after me.

I’m also not sure how long it will be before Charlotte lets go and is happy with my departure from kinder. It could happen quickly now She is older, but history doesn’t augur well for that scenario. I refuse to leave her kicking and screaming, so the kinder director may have to get used to me ‘hangin’ in the wings’ for quite sometime.

Time For Me

I’m also rather ambivalent about helping out. Not that I don’t like helping people. I’ve spent a good part of my adult life in the care industry, but I want Charlotte’s kinder time to be for me to do some quality work. At the moment I am struggling to get quality work time. The positive about being on duty is that I get to hang out with Charlotte and other cute kids.

It will be the first time I have let strangers take over the care of Charlotte. So far She has only been with family & friends and that’s how I like it. I want to be there, watching the changes, watching my girl grow and seeing the ‘first’ of everything as much as possible or knowing that people close to me are doing the job and will relate things back to me.

I don’t believe it is the job of a stranger to be caring for my child. I’m still struggling with that one. So, I guess another positive to being on duty is that I will get to know the other people involved and they will no longer be strangers, but really I’m grasping at straws with that concept. Right now, they are strangers and I know there are things that Charlotte can learn, but I don’t believe there is a rush. She is only 4 years old.

I have just found out via a letter that the Director is being replaced, so I haven’t even met the new person. I’m guessing some spur of the moment decision has taken place. I know the assistant vaguely and She is lovely, but the head honcho really is a stranger.

I Hope My Intuition Is Up To Scratch

One thing that concerns me a lot is that Charlotte doesn’t talk easily about her feelings when She is upset, so if She sees or hears something that disturbs her, I may not find out for days until She is ready to share with me. I’m blessed in having a very articulate child, but in the meantime, She has to choose her moment and could be really struggling inside trying to decipher things. On a positive note with that one, I’m pretty intuitive and tuned into Charlotte, so I’ll probably pick up on it if there is a problem.

There you have it. My perspective on Charlotte attending kindergarten. I am aware that it could end up being an all ’round positive experience for both Charlotte and myself, but roll on the end of the year so we can get into homeschooling.

So Many Perspectives

I know some of you have found it difficult that your child has run off and hardly looked back at you on their first day which must hurt, then others of you have been hanging out for your child/children to be off your hands for awhile. There are so many perspectives and I’m wanting to hear from you about your kinder experience and how you dealt with your feelings about it.

I find having a rant to a good, understanding female friend always helps. Of course I will share with my partner, but he is out at work all day and sadly somewhat removed from it all.

There is one aspect I am looking forward to and it is making new connections for myself and expanding Charlotte’s circle of friends. That is something I feel really good about.

photo credit: GraceFamily