This week we had our very first ‘school run’ experience. Lucas had his first settling in session in pre-school with me and as the twins were being looked after we were able to walk to the school hand in hand. This walk will be the first of many, I don’t have a car in the week so we will always have to walk it in all weathers. I’m sure in a couple of weeks I will be fed up; it isn’t far but walking at Lucas pace it takes close to half an hour and the thought of getting us all ready to go out, whatever the weather, twice a day is a little daunting.
Despite all that there is something so sweet about the walk to and from school. It gives us time to talk in a way we probably wouldn’t in a car and there are things to see on the way. Lucas chatters most of the way and there is a far bit of dawdling as we pass a fire station and a fishing pond. Walking there and back with him, just us two. isn’t something that will happen very often, if at all so this walk was particularly precious. On the way back we were able to talk about all the fun he had and lay the ground work for next week when he is on his own. As we headed out of the school’s road a car pulled up with a Mum and little boy he had met that day, she shouted to us that he wanted to say goodbye to his friend. As if I wasn’t emotional enough that nearly tipped me over the edge and I watched as they waved to each other imagining the years ahead as he adds new people to his life, some of them may even stick. I met my best friends when I was not much older than Lucas and we are as close now as we were then.
There will be a time when he doesn’t need me to walk him to school and he probably won’t want to tell me about his day so when he skips along, holding my hand and singing his own songs it is a lovely moment to remember.
13 Comments
Aww! How lovely….
September 14, 2014 at 10:09 pmI love the walk to and from school with my youngest. My eldest walks with her friends 🙁 We walk in all weathers….Invest in a warm, waterproof coat, hats and gloves. It’s awful in the winter months x
Urgh, I can imagine! I am not looking forward to winter, going looking for a big coat this weekend. I’ll have to come back and read this post when I’m fed up of trudging out in the rain 🙂 xx
September 16, 2014 at 8:50 pmOh this made me feel a little emotional Hayley. What a gorgeous post and I can see through reading your words just how much the walk met to you. It makes me emotional to think of these people coming into their lives that potentially could play such an important part and it makes me sad that one day they might not want to hold our hands and talk about their day- it really makes you realise you need to treaure every moment. I hope L settles in well at pre-school. xx
September 14, 2014 at 10:17 pmThanks Katie, I’m sure he will, we start properly on Thursday. I didn’t expect to feel quite as emotional as I do, I think it’s only just occuring to me that he will be meeting new people who will play such a big part in his life. It’s so exciting and scary all at the same time xx
September 16, 2014 at 8:52 pmThis is such a lovely post. We have a car but school is only about half an hour away too so we will try and walk as often as possible, maybe even in the rain! I love that the twins were looked after on his first day and you got to walk hand in hand x
September 15, 2014 at 10:31 amThanks Donna, I really do think that walk is quite good for us all, definitely a time for them to chat to us without distraction! xx
September 16, 2014 at 8:47 pmOh this had me in tears, Hayley. My eldest is at exactly the same point. He started at the local school a week or so ago and we’re doing the walk (slowly) twice a day, accompanied by a very grump 20 month old who is forced in to his pram to come along. I thought I was okay with him starting school (just two and a half hours a day, this year) but today, I’ve been so, so sad about it. I watched him walk to his classroom with his teacher earlier and he was so excited but seemed incredibly small. I wanted to run over, wrap my arms around him and take him home at once. Why do they have to grow up?
September 15, 2014 at 9:15 pmOh it’s been crazy how emotional I have been, I really didn’t expect for it to hit me this hard so I’m quite glad that there are others like me who understand how hard it is to let them go! All part of growing up but I think it’s harder for us Mums than them.
September 16, 2014 at 8:41 pmAhhh he sounds like he is liking his new chapter in his life. I hope he settles in ok and it’s an easy transition. I find it really strange that they have friends without us, like they’re growing up a bit too quickly. I met my bestest friends when I was about 5 years old and I do wonder if z will find some special friends soon. I hope so 🙂
September 15, 2014 at 9:44 pmWeirdly it has only just occurred to me that they could be making friends for life now, how weird is that?! Like you say, seems they are growing up so quick all of a sudden!
September 16, 2014 at 8:46 pmAww, such a lovely post. Starting school is such an emotional time for all concerned, but it’s so lovely that you can have these first precious moments together, just the two of you. Really hope that your little man is settling in well xxx #theordinarymoments
September 16, 2014 at 5:05 pmThank you, the emotions have definitely caught me off guard but it isn’t so bad when he enjoys it so much xx
September 16, 2014 at 8:43 pmWonderful to be able to walk to school together and catch up on the day. You have years ahead still to enjoy this. Even as teens while they won’t let me walk them anywhere mine still tell me what they are up to in their own time. I hope you can keep the walk to school going as winter approaches. Thank you for sharing on country Kids
September 16, 2014 at 10:17 pm