Nineteen years.
That’s how long I’ve been doing the primary school run for.
Nineteen years ago my eldest son was in his first year of ‘little’ school and now my youngest son is finishing his final year. A full circle.
Nineteen years of spelling test practice, egg and spoon races, school discos, times tables pinned to the fridge, Christmas concerts with homemade costumes. Nineteen years of knowing all the kids in the school, calling the teachers by their first names, school trips, fun facts and endless questions about stuff they’ve learned over dinner. (Yesterday Finley watched a birth video and that was enough to put everyone off their lasagne).
It’s been an emotional week for me. The end of an era. Primary has been part of my life for almost half of my life and I’ve been building up to today’s leaving assembly with a mixture of denial and apprehension thinking ‘what now?’ My children are growing up, forging their place in the world and admittedly I’ve worried whether that place will still have room for me.
I’ve watched Finley’s two brothers transition into adulthood with a sense of amazement and awe. Knowing I’ve raised such well-rounded young men is a constant source of pride and wonder and I know it’s Finley’s time to gain some independence. Dip his toe into the world. It’s been hard not to feel anxious about him making this leap to ‘big’ school, unfairly assuming he must feel the same sense of creeping dread I do.
Today, I sat in the school hall that always smells of rubber and disinfectant for the last time. Cramped on one of the uncomfortable orange plastic chairs which are too big for kids and too small for adults, trying desperately to keep my emotions inside.
The children were called to the front one by one and presented with a book. Behind them a screen showed their image with two speech bubbles, one saying what they wanted to be when they grow up; the other saying who has most inspired them in the world. Finley’s photo flashed up and I leaned forward, straining to read the words that had come from his heart. “When I grow up I want to be an author of fictional stories.” The walls of my throat constricted as I swallowed hard. The next speech bubble stated “I am most inspired by my mum who is a brilliant bestselling author.” And this was my undoing. Tears streamed unchecked down my cheeks as I fumbled for tissues in my bag.
With a rush of relief I realised that Finley is excited for the future and it was only then I could look at today as a beginning rather than an end. Secure in the knowledge that whatever the next stage brings we will face it, as we always do. As a family. With love.
That was a GREAT compliment, Louise 👍😃
Thanks Chris. Unexpected & touching.
Sniff! x
😘
Melanie starts full time education in September, and when Alex was this age I was pregnant Melanie! I don’t know how I feel about this!?
It’s a huge change!
what am I going to do with all this free time!
Write a book!
haha *snorts*
Awww… 😀 ❤
💕
Ah, that’s so amazing! Emotional when they leave primary school, but already my son has reached the end of year 8 – can’t believe it! And you’re right – it’s a start as well as an ending. If he’s anything like my son, Finley will love secondary school. Good luck to you both 🙂
I do hope so. Thanks so
🙂
You are an awesome writer – clever and concise and a joy to read your stories! Nan
That’s made my day! Thanks Nan.
Gosh I cried when my eldest went from the baby room to the big room at nursery! Got some strange looks from mums whose children were leaving around the same time for school. No doubt I’ll be a mess by the time they finish everything. Good luck! Beautifully written x
Aww we must be ultra sensitive being writers. Good luck to you too x