WHAT IMPRESSION CAN THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL MAKE?

“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”
-Malala Yousafzai-

As for Patrick (my first kid), I had worried that starting first grade—and in a new country, no less—would be a shock, a source of stress, or even traumatic for him. As for Dora, I had convinced myself that since she used to go to preschool so happily, with a smile on her face, the transition to school would be even better. https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/skipping-rope-in-my-family-life/

But I was wrong—terribly wrong. In her tear-filled eyes, I saw myself: a small, terrified little creature who had been taken away from a preschool full of friends and split up into three different classes.

ONE CHILD

In Poland and in the Czech Republic, several preschool groups are later reorganized into three first-grade classes. Essentially, the children are split up among classes 1a, 1b, and 1c. Dora was assigned to 1b, along with only two friends she knew from preschool. Worst of all—and this was something Dalibor and I had been worried about—a boy who had already caused trouble in preschool (he used to tease her and make her days there difficult) ended up in the same class as her.

So, when she saw him sitting in the classroom, she froze emotionally right at the door. With tears in her eyes, she whispered in my ear that she wasn’t going in. And yet, she had been excited about starting school all summer long. Every morning, she’d been so proud to be a first-grader—but standing at the classroom door, she suddenly turned into a little girl who wasn’t feeling quite so positive anymore.

ONE MOM

I have to tell you, watching that scene was incredibly hard and made my heart break. I quickly gathered my thoughts and started repeating a few things to my daughter:

“Dori, remember how Mom always used to react to his teasing and report it to his mom? Remember, if he ever tries to be mean to you, I’m right here. I’m always here for you. Remember, we’re strong together, and we won’t let anyone hurt us. You’ll remember that, won’t you, sweetheart?”
She looked me in the eye and said,

“I remember you telling him that this was the last time you were politely asking him to be nice. After that, you wouldn’t say another word, but you would guarantee he experienced the same painful things he had done to me”.

I burst out laughing, and that small smile I had so hoped for appeared on Dora’s face as well. She turned and bravely took her seat at the bench. I waved goodbye. Deep down, I knew that when I returned to pick her up, it would turn out her first day of school had been exactly the one she had dreamed of.

ONE TEACHER

And indeed, she really speaks highly of her teacher. Now, after two weeks of school, the teacher says Dora is an angel—she helps out in class and assists the other children. She mentions that her “small enemy” bothers her during lessons, but the teacher reacts quickly, and he behaves himself afterward.

DIFFERENT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

I don’t think I really got the hang of the transition from preschool to primary school until third grade. Then came another shock because in fourth grade you no longer have just one teacher but a different one for every subject—so just as I felt I’d finally settled in, a new challenge was waiting for me.
When a friend of mine heard my story about Dora’s first day of school, he said,

“Marta, I think I didn’t really wake up to what school was all about until I was nine; I was a really anxious kid. I think it took me three years of schooling to click and grasp what the whole system was about finally.”

He cracked me up, because it turns out that he, I, and probably a few of our mutual friends all share similar stories about our early school days. Dora, on the other hand, needed only 14 days to become the teacher’s little ray of sunshine—her absolute darling.

I wish you—the parents of first-graders—nothing but positive experiences. Even if the first few days prove emotionally draining, our children adapt faster than we do. I believe that, just like me. You will breathe a sigh of relief after two weeks and return to a sense of normalcy.

https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/how-to-screw-up-new-moms-day/