For the last four good years, I've been the stay-at-home mum. And some weeks I really have felt like I've stayed at home for the good part (You mamas know what I'm talking about?).
Sometimes it felt like it would last a long while, and the days of my eldest child, and children following suit - would be a long while before they would come. And now we are almost a week past that long while. Our two girls - one has started her first year of prep, and her year younger sister has started four-year-old kinder, this week past.
Just. Crazy.
People always say "time flies!" but really, time has come and gone swiftly and sometimes it's a hard pill to swallow that I'm 26, and not 20 (which is what I feel like still) from when our having children began. Six years later, four precious cherubs to join our little family. Or the 'Walshies' which is what some friends and family have dubbed us.
So we share with you our beginnings, as we begin our First Day: Luaipou's First Day at School, and Vaiola's First Day at Kindergarten.
The girls have been super excited for the school term to get going, since before Christmas (and what a crazy rush of events it was preceeding Christmas!)
We call Luaipou 'Pouey', and Vaiola 'La'.
Pouey has been super excited for school, as she was for kinder. She can be a little shy too. But her shy sweet self, never completely stops her from participating in activities. She is a gentle soul, and with motherly instincts quite intact - we're certain being the eldest of four children under the age of six has stimulated this. The night before we tried on her uniform to get into school mode, she beamed with pride.
As for me, her mummy, I knew she was quite ready for school, and ready to blossom from this learning phase of her childhood. I was excited too, and had no apprehension at letting her go. She is just a blessing to our family in many ways, and I couldn't wait to watch her sprout into the beautiful young girl she has always been, and becoming even moreso.
A good day always starts with breakfast, and smiles..
I guess I had anticipated this day, and her school was good in preparing all the students meeting them a couple times last year, getting to know them etc. I felt quite comfortable our little girl would be fine. With the dressing, getting ready, and breakfast-ing of our other three children, perhaps that was a good distraction to disguise my nerves. She was excited, and a little nervous at the same time. I know I was definitely shy as a child, first day of school could be pretty intimidating for children I imagine.
We say our family prayer, and this day, was somehow a little different and maybe just that much more sweeter (or somewhat sombre) that we were farewelling our eldest daughter and sister. I thought about how she had been home with me everyday since she was born. What a blessing it was that I had that time with her. Precious time watching her reach her milestones, precious time in pyjamas all day, precious time - having no real schedule! Or at least an everyday school schedule. Those five years have come, but haven't really gone so quickly, as I have been able to be at home with her. I feel grateful for that blessing.
This is a precious photo to me, Pouey playing in the car with her little brother Donovan. Donovan just adores little Pouey. She was the next person after me, who he would give kisses too - and for timid reserved Donovan that's certainly saying a lot!
So, we accomplish the seven minute drive from home unscathed. And we find a car park conveniently in right by her classroom. Looking through the fence of the primary school could be metaphoric in various ways. Through the gates was the beginning of a new world, and as I was becoming nostalgic, Pouey nudged me and was eager and ready to step through those gates.
We were lucky to have proud Grandma come with us, share this milestone with us too. Grandchild # 2, of 8, to become a preppy.
We said our goodbyes, and Cam and I, daddy and mummy, both gave her a kiss just inside the doorway and watched her walk to the mat and sit down with the other children. We walked out, and peeked through the closed door - and there she was attentive to her teach Miss Wallace - and didn't look back.
Sigh of relief. And no tears from her. Or me! Hooray!
When I went with the kids to pick her up from school on her first day, she was still beaming. And I was sure she had grown in maturity, just a little more.
She has just completed her first week of school as of today. Ta daa!
One of her favourite things (and naturally instinctive) when we pick her up from school is to greet her siblings and take Donovan from my hands immediately. And Donovan is quite satisfied with this too.
And so there it is. Pouey's first week at primary school.
And, last but not least, or second eldest child Vaiola has completed her first week of kinder. Two days, seven and a half hours each day her schedule. (People ask as I do, what ever will I do with myself with two children gone, and two children left at home? Cleaning. Probably.)
Vaiola is sweet and innocently talkative (Yes, we all have a talkative one, right?) Not really shy, and has been asking since last November, when will it be her turn attend kinder. And that time couldn't have come any sooner for her.
She eased into her first day well and was so excited to carry her school bag and make the two minute walk to kinder from home (great, huh?!) I was able to walk La to her first day of kinder on my own. I appreciate (as I'm sure my kids do) the one-on-one time I have with the kids and try to give my attention to them exclusively in these moments. But there aren't too many of these moments, having four rambunctious children, so when they come - they are special.
She was super excited to head to her first day of kinder. And when we arrived a little early, we had to wait for her teacher Miss Alyssa to open the door. A few minutes of waiting, were a few minutes too long for Miss Impatience! Waiting.. and waiting.. you know, five minutes to a child can feel like five hours..
And then I did the sign in (I had this downpact from the previous year sending Pouey to kinder) so the routine really felt like I was continuing with La. And then we were in, thanks to Miss Alyssa.
La found her locker for her bag, she put her snack on the snack time trolley whilst I snagged a permanent marker from Miss Alyssa to name La's bottle (which should have already been previously named, oops). La found her way to the sitting mat and her expression was nervous, excited and quite content to send me off with a wave goodbye. I couldn't help but hang around for a few moments longer to enjoy this exciting time for her and watch her relish the moment of finally being at kinder. She is a gem. Especially with that scrumptious no-lip smile.
La had a great day. And Miss Alyssa says La is a happy child who likes to talk a lot (of course I laugh with no surprise) and comments she is one of the better 'listener's' in the class (this time I laugh with surprise). And so, we love our little Lala, who by the way, was nicknamed by her older sister.
And so it is, the week of 'firsts' for our family. Which also will precedent many 'firsts' to come.
I love families. And can see how every family, including mine, are meant to be together. Forever.
