Dreading that FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL-ITIS!

These summer hols have been short this time. Too short. I could do with another 3 weeks of holiday. The school season for 2010 is going to be a long one – 4 terms of 10 weeks each. I’m trying to get my head back into business. It doesn’t want to!

Tomorrow is the FIRST DAY of the school year for Primary kids. We then have a day’s reprieve for Australia Day, and then everyone heads back into routine and the busy-ness of school, extracurricular activities, & STUFF on Wednesday the 27th.

I would bet that today, I’m only one of MANY frazzled parents - trying to get all the socks, hats, uniforms etc named, stationery sorted and named and covered. I may spend the day being a little envious of those who have been much more organised than myself. But actually, who am I kidding….it wouldn’t have been any different!

I think getting ready for school Down Under is quite different to what we experienced in the Great White North. There, you just turn up at the appointed time, on the appointed day. You don’t need to get truckloads of stationery/textbooks bought or picked up, and named, and sorted – a far better system in my opinion!

Lil L is very excited. Kinda. Part of him is envious of his big bro who gets an extra day at home. The other part of him is KEEN to meet up with his nice new teacher, get to know his other new classmates, and ESPECIALLY get to BE in his nice new classroom! We popped down to the school to have a look at the classlists yesterday, and also stopped by to have a look at the new wing of classrooms that has emerged over the holidays. Airconditioned, well appointed, with a new tuckshop and lift, and large spacious open air areas – very nice! Lil L’s class is the one with the larger windows on the left….directly above the tuckshop and overlooking the athletics oval.

Anyway, my creative juices have been sapped dry with having to name endless pairs of sox, so I will just use a poem I wrote a couple of years ago when I did have bit of creative dribble left. If you think you recognise the poem, its cos I used this poem last year on the blog as well. Oh well. It says it all!

AN ODE TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Wild dreams of pencils, protractors, and pens,
Rulers and bags and crayons-in-10’s,
Felt tips in all their colourful array,
Swimming togs, shoes…….last minute dismay!

***

Books to be covered with contact and seal,
Clothes to be named from the head to the heel,
Jotters and refills, more glue sticks of course,
All fit in the school bag…with creative force!

***

Just when it looks like the bag’s gonna pop!
Everything comes to a breathtaking stop….
The nightmare is shredded by ear piercing squeals –
“Time to get up!” the alarm clock appeals.

***

You fling open eyelids, wipe sleep from your eyes,
Throw back the blankets and leap for the skies…
Who are you kidding! - You just curl up and hide…
Hoping the noise from your alarm will subside.

***

For today is The Day – the first day of school!
No more late brunches or trips to the pool;
No more wandering around in your cosy PJ’s;
No more sleep in’s or long lazy days.

***

No more leisurely reading of book after book;
No more fish on our line left to hook;
No more going for strolls in the park;
No more staying up late till well after dark.

***

No more break from the routine and drudge;
No more baking endless batches of fudge;
No more daydreaming as you lie in the sun;
Just timetabling, scheduling, places to run!

***

The first day of school…..it fills one with awe -
New teachers, new students, new carpet on floor.
We’re nervous, excited…the questions are there;
Will we be summonsed to the Principal’s lair?

***

Will there be bullies and will there be fights?
Will there be people who stand up for rights?
Will the work be too hard, or will it be fair?
Will there be someone who is willing to share?

***

Will the teachers be nice, or grumpy and tough?
Will we learn history, and division by half?
Will there be someone who’ll easily befriend?
Will it be long, till term comes to an end?

***

The excitement and chatter die down with the bell.
My heart skips a beat as my goodbyes I tell.
My eyes are all teary, as we part from each other
The first day of school is so hard… on The Mother!