We feared that he would be uncooperative in the morning, unwilling to go to school after yesterday's short distress. So, Mommy got up bright and early to make apple pancakes so that breakfast can be finished faster, and we didn't get unnecessarily delayed. After all, we needed time to say goodbye properly at school. The sad fact is, Mommy & Daddy had meetings today, and could not afford the luxury of being late. The sad reality of working parents.
I digress.
So we set off, marginally late only because Ignatius got a little uptight about putting on a fresh diaper.
We got there with about 10mins to spare for goodbye. Not too bad. Thankfully, his form teacher (whom he likes) was already there. She saw us and came over, and expert at handling the upcoming situation. I felt reassured that she knew exactly what to do without me asking or telling her. Ignatius seemed ok at being there...dare I say...happy? to be there. No fuss during temperature taking nor taking off his shoes. Mommy was very careful NOT to be the one carrying Ignatius. We made sure Daddy was the one who carried him from the car to the classroom, and Daddy was the one who set him down. In case of any hysterics or clingy-ness.
So Ignatius stood at the door, turned to face inwards and reached out his hand to me, to hold me and pull me into the play area. oooohhhhh my heart ached! I squated down to his level, and told him that Mommy and Daddy had to go to work, and that he can follow the school bus home later and see Ah Ma and Ah Gong. Ignatius had a scared stunned look on his face when he realised I wasn't going to go in.
At this moment, his form teacher (the angel!) offered to carry him, allaying the tears for a while longer. I asked Ignatius to blow me a kiss farewell, and blew one to him. He was still in shock. His teacher emphasized that he will go home later, and Mommy and Daddy will see him there. We turned to go. The sobbing started... Mommy!!! ... Mommy ah!!! ... ... the agony!
It had to be done. My feet continued their journey to the car. It was painful leaving him, but I could hear his teacher trying to distract him. I prayed fervently she was good at it.
At around 10.20am, I called the school to find out how he was. His principal told me the most amazing thing. They used the same method of "discipline" that I used at home. How wonderful, at least now both home and school were consistent! And, he was familiar with it, and knew how to behave accordingly. He was crying, and they told him, if he stopped crying, they would carry him. They put their finger to their lips and went SHhh. Now, Mommy also says the exact same thing, and does the exact same thing, and Ignatius has learnt to put his own finger to his lips, and go Shhh Shhh in an attempt to stop himself. He did that in school today, and his teachers were most amused. I think that help him in winning brownie points to be carried! He cried quite badly until about 9am, and intermittently till about 9.30am. By then, he didn't need to be carried anymore, and was quite willing to settle for hand holding. This was all good news to me and boy was I relieved. I was imagining the worst! So I hung up the phone, knowing that he was currently happily playing ball, after rejecting being placed on the trampouline.
At 12.30pm, I called again. This time, they told me he was cranky and crying and wanted to be carried as he was tired. I could understand...same scenario as the previous 2 days. They warned me that when he alighted from the school bus, he might go into hysterics. Both because he was tired, and also because it was a form of showing his "protest" against being left alone at the school. I prepared my mother in law for it. However, she told me that he was awake, and was happily interacting with the bus aunty, and even grinned cheekily at her when the bus door opened. My gosh...! I wonder how that came about! And, he didn't even fall asleep for his afternoon nap till 3.45pm!
When we got home in the evening, he was really glad to see us. He dropped what he was doing, and ran over! ... usually he runs the other way and laughs. He was in a good mood, and we were happy. I read through the teacher-student communication notebook and found out that he had fun painting with the big brush again today. I can't wait to see his artwork! =)
Tomorrow, he will not be caught unawares anymore. Let's see how it goes.
said...
You are doing great! So is little Iggy! Keep it up! I am sure he will start to like going to school. Many of my friends have brought their babies to playgroup and pre-nursery and the like but I haven't even thought about it yet... And I am sure Ethan will not let go of me and will stick to me like a little koala on a tree...
said...
hellos!
I hope Ignatius starts to like school too! It did seem like fun the 2 days that I was there.
haha on Ethan the Koala...who knows, he may surprise you with his independence! =)