A big step...

Tonight, Jake has his Grade 1 orientation evening at our local primary school.  All the kids will be there with their parents, they'll each be called up to go with their respective teachers to their new classrooms, while the parents listen to the boring stuff. 

When we started primary school, we didn't have an orientation evening as such.  We went to school on the first day of Grade 1 (then called Sub-A), all dressed and ready to go.  Needless to say, after a morning of photos in the garden with my sister, by the time my name was called up and I actually had to leave my parents in the school hall to head off with my new teacher and class mates, I was totally worked up and just burst into tears.  I can remember it very vividly.

Tonight gives the kids a chance to meet their new teachers and friends and to sit at their desks in their new classrooms.  I think it's bound to make their first day a lot less daunting for them.  Jake is super excited about going to big school.  He's desperate to start reading and writing and doing sums.  He can't wait to wear a uniform (just not very excited about the long socks he has to wear) and I really think that he is very ready to start school now.  I'm looking forward to the challenges its going to bring us both, even though I do think I am going to need to start studying again with him from Grade 1!

Jake's also very lucky in that both his aunties (Jacques' sisters) have taught at the school, so the teachers all know the family and our history.  His two big cousins, Abigail and Rebecca also attend the same school (they are 4 & 2 years ahead of him).  Also, the principal is a very good family friend of Jacques' family and Jake refers to him as Uncle Fred - it's going to be a hard lesson to learn to call him Sir or Mr van Vuuren...  His son, Wesley, was one of the best men at our wedding and we are really close to Wes, his wife Lizelle and their kids.  All in all, I think that Jake will grow in confidence and I think that this is going to be a very exciting, positive year for him.

Needless to say, come the first day of school next year and I'm probably still going to be a bundle of nerves after photos in the garden, just like I was 26 years ago.  I can't believe my sweet little baby boy is so grown up already!!!

Love Sue X

PS.  My camera is finally on it's way home, after getting lost by the courier service.  In the interim (while I thought it was gone forever) I had a look at cameras online and know what I want next.  I might get it soon...