school-Honest Mum

School Pressures

school-Honest MumSchool pressures

In September my son Oliver started school and in many ways, so did I.

What to wear to the school gates (good intention gym kit or easy to wear tea dresses if I’ve got meetings)-not that anyone really cares, polite chatter in the playground with other parents through tired eyes due to wrestling kids into school uniforms, forcing food down their necks (son refused anything but quavers this morning-nice) and making sure show and tell books or anything else needed, has made it into the book bag…

As you can tell, it’s all rather pressurised and exhausting. Especially as pre-school wasn’t as strict, I wasn’t bound to the school at specific times and it was all a bit more chilled as it would be…

Today was School Harvest Assembly (not sure that’s the official name because I missed it in the emailed newsletter-more of that later) where parents were also invited and for some reason the reminder text didn’t reach me and well, I might have *cough skim read the newsletter… So I double booked the assembly today with a beauty bloggers’ event that has scheduled times of attendance.

If I’d actually READ the newsletter properly, I would have changed the time I was due to be at the event and headed to the harvest festival. Luckily my son informed me of it yesterday evening so I managed to fill his book bag with chick peas, baked beans, tuna and chopped tomatoes so it wasn’t a complete fail…

You see Oliver’s previous pre-school emailed newsletters but they basically babysat the parents and informed us in person or with big notes on doors of when events, assemblies and sports days were happening.

But, I suppose we’re both at ‘big school’ now and need to adapt. Quickly. There’s no time for primary school to hold our hand every bit of the way and I’m learning (we both are, we really are). Oliver dresses himself now and has become an independent little boy in as little as a three weeks at school. I’m learning I must read newsletters. Always.

It’s just today I’m missing a harvest assembly and my son’s a little bit disappointed. And so am I.

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20 Responses

  3. It’s hard to keep up and it gets worse the more you have at school as they aren’t all all the same day. I make sure I have everything in my calendar with an alert two days before, one day before and an hour before school. And sometimes I do forget, but I’ve learnt to get more organised. I find it so difficult to juggle everything and all we can do is the best we can. If I can’t make a school service, I try to make sure there is a grandparent there, it’s not the same, but it takes the pressure off us for a bit. Hugs and you are doing a great job hon xx

    Reply

  4. No one can accuse me of not being organised – heck my blog header mentions my ‘to-do’ lists! – but even I struggled with all the comings and goings at the eldest’s school. We get sent a booklet at the beginning of the year with every event mapped out though so I made it my task to work through that and copy across everything I’m supposed to be at or do something for into my phone diary with reminders a week before and the day before so I don’t forget! Thank goodness we can multi-task eh?

    Reply

    1. I’m usually fairly organised and definitely with my work life but pre-school was so much more lax that it’s all happened so fast! Going to get more organised though, thanks for your comment!

      Reply

  5. Does your school do a calendar of termly events? I religiously sit down in the holidays with paper and electronic diaries and fill in all possible/potential school events- parents evenings, plays, assemblies, matches etc etc etc – without that I’d be lost (2 schools)- also useful if you or DH needs to block time out of a work day (sports day etc). If your school only does a weekly thing lobby for more notice! It’s the only way to avoid the odd missed letter home, reminder text etc.

    Reply

    1. I will check it out Nicola as not sure, I think the newsletter is every fortnight, I suppose there’s just so much info all at once, it’s a baptism of fire for us all-we’ll get there though! Thanks for your fab comment!

      Reply

  6. I feel you! It can be a massive leap up the learning curve when they start ‘big school’! I missed a good few assemblies and important notices in the first term or two, I bet this will all feel like second nature to you by Easter! You will be queen of the school run notifications, bake sales, PE kits, the lot!

    Reply

  7. Try not to stress Vicki, My son of 4 has just started school too along with his 2 big brothers. I have been late for 3 years now and have only just sussed the skill of looking on the website to keep up with what’s going on! I’m sure you will get into the swing of things soon! x

    Reply

  8. same here, the number of things we have to do and remember is on top of everyday life and work. So many texts and emails! We miss pre-school, yes they babysat us but we felt included as parents, at school it’s chaotic and you have to grab a teacher to tell them something. Have our parents evening in a couple of weeks, I’ve been taking notes but as I only get a 10 minute slot I will have to talk fast! 🙂

    Reply

  9. Ahhh dont be too disappointed Vicky, I know its easy for me to sit here and say it, but we cant be everywhere all the time. Its just one assembly and I know there will be others and you will make it to those! Maybe not them all but i’m sure he wont remember that one time you didnt show! XX

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  10. I really hope it gets easier for you. This is such a hard time. My oldest has just started pre-school and they are uber strict. It is just like being back at school for me too! I think a lot of us mums and dads are feeling the strain with new school schedules and ways of doing things. Fingers crossed we’ll all be more relaxed and in the groove in the next few months! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks Lauryn, they wore a uniform at preschool and had to be in at a certain time but they weren’t too strict if they weren’t and pick up was as late as you like-just a big change for us both x

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  11. Well, aside from planning outfits, you could be describing the past six years in our family.

    I’m forever being informed of some crucial school event that’s happening tomorrow, which I missed entirely because I didn’t check the homework book, or the school newsletter, or website, or something.

    The good news is that when you’re a working Mum it’s par for the course, and you’ll get to bond with other working Mums at the few school events you actually remember to attend, and can fit into your schedule. And if you’re extra lucky, like me, you’ll get such a reputation for not being able to manage the art of parenting, that the school secretary will take to diving out of her office every time she sees you to remind you of this half day, or that school trip.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Sally, you’ve made me feel a lot better-it’s funny as I seem to feel like I’m the only one in the playground failing at everything-I seriously need your secretary in my life! Thanks for this!

      Reply

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