Reception Class: Is It Really Over?
This afternoon, I will pick you up from your Reception class for the last time. Oh my little one, how can you have finished your first year of school already?!
First Day In Reception
I remember so vividly that first day when I dropped you off. I remember your hand clasped tightly to mine. I remember how small you looked in your oversized school uniform. I remember the matching love hearts we drew on our hands so that we’d know we were both thinking of each other. I remember how bravely you waved goodbye as I turned to go. And I remember the lump in my throat and the burn of tears in my eyes as I desperately fought to be out of your sight before giving in to my heartbreak.
Then And Now
So much has changed in that year. You have certainly enjoyed your time in Reception. I have seen you flourish. I have seen you develop new interests. I have seen you navigate a path through group politics and social etiquettes.
When you started, my precious child, I was so proud of you for knowing your letter sounds. Now you come home and read books to me! You tell me about new digraphs that you have learnt and the ‘tricky words’ you have learnt to spell.
When you started, my special girl, we still had numbers 1 to 20 with 15, 16 and 17 missing! Now you can add, subtract, double and halve! You can count past 100. You walk down the street and read out the house numbers to me. You’ve even started on your timetables (I’m pretty sure I didn’t learn any of THEM until I was in year 4!)
When I see what you have accomplished in a single year, I am inspired. The human capacity to assimilate knowledge and learn is astounding!
The End Of An Era
I know it sounds silly because I’m really excited to have you at home for the holidays, but I am reluctant to come and collect you. It will be the end of an era. Next year, I won’t be waiting for you in the closed off Reception playground. I’ll be out in the main playground with the parents of the ‘big kids’. You’re going to BE one of those big kids! How is that possible?! How has the time gone so fast?
I know you are still only 5 years old, but I feel like time is slipping through my fingers. I know that each change is small and, in many ways, insignificant, but they’re accumulative. And with each step, you are becoming more independent, more ready for the world, more separate from me.
My every fibre wants to hug you close, tuck you into my arms and never let go. How could I live without these cuddles, without waking up to your beaming smiles every day, without holding your hand round the shops?! The thought of it seems unbearable, like a thick mist clogging the air, making it hard for me to breathe.
Onwards And Upwards
And yet at the same time, this is my goal. Isn’t the aim of every mummy to prepare their children for life? Each lesson I teach you, each gentle message, each careful instruction is to better equip you for life. To send you out into the world with the life skills and tools you need.
So I shall come and collect you with head held high. I will grin from ear to ear as you run out of the door and fling yourself into my arms. I will enjoy these precious moments while you are in my custody. And I will choke back my tears as I set you on that one-way track away from my arms and into the kind, confident, delightful grown up that you are already cultivating. xxx
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Beautiful post – my little girl finished reception yesterday (we are also in the big playground in September) it is so bittersweet. It has been a tough year for us and I am glad we have some time to relax and just be together. Enjoy your summer together lovely. #sharethebloglove
Ah we are in the same boat! Enjoy your summer too. Thanks for commenting. L
My son has just finished reception too, it is insane how much they change in just a few months isn’t it? x #coolmumclub
Yes I can’t believe how much they grow and learn. It’s incredible! I hope your son has enjoyed his first year at school. L
Oh my goodness so heart wrenching their progress totally brings on mixed sentiments with me so proud that this is what we are preparing them for but so emotional too…thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xx
Yes it’s so bittersweet as they become more and more independent. It’s sort of the point of motherhood but also one of the hardest bits too
Oh my goodness Lucy a beautiful post. I love that you drew love hearts on your hands on her first day, that is adorable. My niece has just finished her first year in reception and my SIL feels the same about them not being the safety of the reception playground and out with the big kids. It goes so fast doesn’t it? She has achieved so much in her first year, you have every right to be a proud mummy and I hope my little Alice does just as well when she starts reception in September. Thank you for joining us for #SharingtheBlogLove Laura x
I honestly thought it would be so much easier this year as she was leaving reception rather than leaving nursery but it’s still been so emotional! That’s taken me by surprise quite a bit. I’m sure your daughter will love school and I wish you a lovely summer together before she starts. L
What a beautiful post! This seems a world away from where I am now with a two year old, but I know it’ll come round so quickly and just the thought of it makes me emotional! Enjoy every minute of the summer holidays! Thanks so much for joining us again at #SharingtheBlogLove
Everybody warns you that time goes to quickly with little ones, but it really, really does! Just got to remember too take the time to enjoy the ride 🙂
This is beautiful! My baby boy is only six months old but I can already relate to how you feel. He changes everyday and I feel like I’ll blink and miss something!
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http://nowmynameismummy.com/index.php/2016/07/26/putting-baby-nap-good-test-sainthood/
Yes time flies sometimes. Like you say, they change everyday! Thanks for commenting. L
It’s amazing how much they can change and flourish in a year isn’t it? I’ve loved seeing the first day vs last day pictures on Facebook these past few weeks. Thanks for linking up to #PoCoLo
Oh yes I’ve seen lots of those comparison photos too. It’s incredible how quickly they change! L
[…] boy is only two, so the whole starting school stage seems so far away at the moment. But I loved Reception: Is it Really Over?, a beautifully written post from Lucy, looking back over the first year of school – from […]
What a lovely post. Being a parent is full of bittersweet milestones isn’t it? I hope you have a lovely summer together! xx
#sharingthebloglove
Yes bittersweet is a good word for it – you feel proud as they grow up and gain independence, but you also want to keep them! Thanks for commenting. Our summer has been lovely so far 🙂
Lovely! They grow up so fast, how does that happen? Hope she enjoys ‘big school’ #sharingthebloglove
Yeah you think you have loads of time with them, but suddenly they’re growing up and you see how quickly the time goes! Thank you for your comment. L
This is lovely – my daughter is only 2 so school still feels a long way off but I know it will be here before I know it. I’ll have to remember the heart things – it’s such a cute idea. #sharingthebloglove
It really does go so quickly! Thank you for leaving a comment. L
Ah this made my eyes well with tears! My son is only 17 months but I can already imagine how this feels. It was the bit about the two matching hearts that really got me! *sobs* Charlie @realgirlramblings #sharingthebloglove
I was surprised how emotional I felt about it all! I thought it would be easier this year as she was just moving from one school class to another (rather than starting school for the first time) but it actually still felt like a really big step. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Lovely post. We’re at the same stage although having a lazy boy his year 1 class will split and he’ll be staying down with a few others until he gets some confidence with his writing and moves up fully into the Y1/Y2 class. It will be weird collecting them from the main playground though. I’d not thought of that progress.
It sounds good that they are giving him some time before moving up – don’t want to overwhelm him if he still needs to build his confidence. Especially if it’s a class with some year2s in as well. Our school has 2 classes per year group so there aren’t any mixed classes like that, I don’t think. Thank you for commenting on my post. L
A beautiful read thank you so much for sharing this. We’re a few years off starting reception but seeing your comments and knowing I have this to look forward to is really heartwarming. #sharingthebloglove
I’m sure it won’t feel like 2 minutes until you’re at this stage. Thank you for leaving a comment. L
What a beautiful post! I remember this so well, LP is now 7 and about to start Year 3. They grow up so fast! I’m sure your little one will love Big School just as much as she loved Reception. xx
Thanks for linking to #PoCoLo – sorry for the delayed comment. xx
My son starts reception in September so have a whole host of new things and changes to experience with him #sharingthebloglove
Ooh I hope he enjoys school! He’ll learn so much 🙂
How beautiful! I had to try not to cry. I can’t imagine it with a 22 month old, but I know it will creep up only too quickly. A beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. #Sharingthebloglove
Yes it goes so quickly! Thank you for leaving a comment. L
Every milestone is hard and emotional I find. Lovely to know they are growing and becoming their own person but they just seem to do it so quickly xxx #SharingtheBlogLove
My Middle Monkey starts reception in September. I remember his brother’s first full year at school and how much they change. He is now nearly six and I often wonder where the time goes. I am really hanging on to every moment this summer with my New school starter before he starts his new chapter. I am really looking forward to how he will change but will still miss cuddling on the sofa watching CBeebies.
Aaaw I hope he settles into school life quickly. Sometimes life just whizzes by! I’m sure it’ll feel like no time are all until I’m writing another post about daughter number 2 leaving reception!! Thank you for commenting. L
This is so sweet. My daughter is turning 5 and then going to start Kindergarten (US) the day after. I am not ready for her to be a big kid yet so this just made me think of that and cry. Thank you for such a beautiful post.
Nicole
Oh you poor thing – I know just how you feel! It’s a cliché but they really do grow up so quickly! I am sure your daughter will love Kindergarten (and you will get used to it too – it’s amazing how quickly you get into a routine!). Thank you for your comment. L
I just sobbed reading this post! My little boy is only going to reception next year, but this is exactly how I felt when I collected him after his first few months of nursery. A mother’s love is SO STRONG.
So strong! Yes! It’s so hard when you utlimate job is to steadily prepare them to move away from you, but your whole being is screaming for them to stay! Thank you for leaving a comment. L
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