Gabriel Enters Primary School 2012

Dearest Gabriel,

4 Jan 2012, was the day my little boy has moved to a new page of life – to enter primary school, a big school and a big family. We have lots of feelings when we were preparing for your schooling. We are happy and excited for your new page of life. On the other hand, we are feeling a bit down as we realize you will grow up very fast, secondary, university, then work, marriage. We don’t know how long you will still be so attached to papa and mummy like now. However we will do our best to accompany you along the journey of life, as long as we can.

For the preparation of school, we took half day leave to go to one “old and famous” shop to buy your uniform. The shop name is Kimnovak. We bought 4 sets of uniform, 2 pairs of shoes and socks and 2 bottles of shoes white cream. We didn’t buy you a new bag but we took the old bag to repair. The bag has torn and couldn’t zip up. It only cost us RM8 for the repair. But due to this, papa car was scratched by another car when we were caught in a traffic jam in town. Papa was quite frustrated as the lady didn’t stop. But on the other hand, we were happy that we could settle one more thing for your school preparation.

Orientation Day

For the first 3 days, parents were allowed to go to the school. So mummy took half day leave for 2 days to accompany you to familiarize with the new environment. Before this, there was also a one day orientation. All 3 of us didn’t sleep well before the orientation day. Early in the morning you were very excited and told mummy that as mummy slept, you felt like you did not sleep. You were really excited to put on your new uniform, new shoes and comb a handsome hair. We had to arrive school at 8:00 am. As we always slept late normally (12:00 am),  so we have to make a change to sleep early (10:00+pm) in order that you have enough energy to attend the afternoon class. We have observed that you yawned many times during the orientation. It was quite hard for us to make this change. Mummy has to forget about the housework and sleep with you. Otherwise, I know you won’t sleep. Both of us took so long to sleep and remind each other not to talk anymore. You were really concerned you cannot be late to school. The reason is you have read the comics about that if you were late to school, the gates will be closed. Actually on the orientation day, nothing much happened. We expected to get new books but none were distributed. There were many excited parents who keep taking photos and videos of their loved ones. This caused traffic jam along the corridors. We feel relieved when you were able to follow teacher’s instructions and didn’t show any rejection of the school.

At the school hall on 1st day

On the first day of school, mummy only met you in the hall. You were sent by the driver from the day care. You arrived very early and were very obedient sitting in the hall for 1.5 hours. The hall was so crowded and full of students and parents. Then your teacher led you all to the classroom to start class. Initially mummy wanted to train you to buy food in canteen, but when I saw the crowd, I started to worry. We can’t even get a seat after buying the food. The recess time is only 20 minutes. So mummy decided to order food for you so that you can have a reserved place. Actually what made you most excited was to buy food by yourself. When mummy asked you if I would be ok if I didn’t accompany you, you answered, “The only problem is I have no money to buy food”. However on the first day mummy gave you a wallet and some coins, you lost it. You were very sad, for the whole night and showed me the moody face in school too. The aunty for the before school care found it. I guess you dropped it due to you kept on taking out the wallet to check.

Meal on 1st Day

After teacher distributed the new books, we bought you another small bag to reduce the load of your bag. You sat for a test and changed class after streaming. Your new classroom was on the first floor, so it was really difficult for you to pull the heavy bag up the stairs.

Mummy also had worries about your seating. As you always turned your head to one side when you watch TV, mummy tried to talk to teacher to let you sit at the center so as not to make your eyesight worsen. However I guess teacher will just ignore my request as there may have many parents to request “ good seating” for their child too. You really listen to mummy to grab a front and center seat when you go to class room every day. However I guess teacher will rearrange the seat again.

Mummy really have many worries when you go to standard one. In school is no more like kindy or day care where all children can have special care. But I guess I need to release and let go. It is time for you to grow and learn and to be independent.

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