My son’s impression of school is what he has heard/seen from his older sis’s version of her school. So school for him is the big, tall building where we drop “Didi” off everyday. Guess, so he wasn’t really prepared to go to a school that didn’t look anything like it!
The first day was relatively ok since mothers were to accompany them through the session. Although all the toys were very enticing, leaving Mama to play with it was just not to be! The next day is when the real test began for the mothers. We were asked to wait outside for the entire duration of the session while the bawling, wailing toddlers had to be pried (from the mothers) away to class. The sessions were short at first which were gradually increased through the week. The sessions were as traumatic for mothers as it was for their little ones. Waiting outside with ears perked up to hear for the wails of their little ones, mothers were jittery and nervous. Each trying to tell the other about how soon they are sure to adjust to the new school, teacher and schedule in general. After the wait, as the kids are sent back the wailing and bawling sessions resume with renewed vigour!
My little soldier was no different and used to wail his lungs out twice each day. He took a whole of 2 weeks to adjust to his new routine. But soon I found that he had started enjoying his time in school. On asking him repeatedly about his day at school I could extract snippets of information. Initially, the resistance was at the mere mention of school at home. The next change I observed was that he used to love his walk to and from school. Watching stray dogs, cats and birds, running down the slopes and splashing in little puddles of rain water were his favorite activities. As the school gate approached, his “nahi Mama, nahi Mama” would start.
Nowadays, he willingly gets dressed for school, asks to carry his own school bag and is off. The crying has now almost completely stopped and he looks forward to going to school each day, something I thought would never happen at all! So, to all mothers of cranky toddlers, don’t lose heart, they will come around soon!
Another heartening part of the entire playschool exercise for me is that he is getting toilet trained there. I was asked to stop making him wear diapers to school and have been told that they make sure he uses the toilet (which Iam told he actually does!) or change him in case of an accident. All I have to do is to ensure there is a change in his school bag. Toilet training my little soldier has been a challenge for me and this sure is helping me a lot, I must confess!
All in all, it has sure been as much of a learning experience for me as it is for my little soldier!
