I'm writing this for parents of children who are starting school for the first time this September because it's as big a milestone for you as it is for your child.
Those who follow my blog know that settling my youngest son, Alexander, now 2 1/2 into nursery has not been easy for either of us.
Having spent most of the first 2 years of his life with either myself or my Mum, initially starting nursery at 2, felt totally foreign to him.
Last Monday saw me attend a formal event in the staggeringly regal, gilded Music Room in Lancaster House by Buckingham Palace, to celebrate the Early Years education sector, hearing from and meeting some of the best practice providers in the UK.
So those who follow me here and on FB know that Alexander, 2 and 4 months, trialled nursery last September after his 2nd birthday and HATED it.
So my Oliver brings all the girls to the yard...and it's no doubt milk rather than milkshakes senoirs he's still at pre-school but funny nonetheless! Slowly I've noticed over the last few months in particular that young girls are starting to notice him. He's always been popular at nursery (in fact I remember a row of girls standing by the window waving his off aged 2 1/2) but it's becoming a little more obvious now!
A torrent of 20 little pirate boys and girls (and one chief pirate Mummy)-skull jewellery counts as piratey right(?!) ascended to David Lloyd's for a heartily fun day to celebrate Oliver and his best friend Oscar's 4th birthday.
My child's Pre-School has two weeks off for October half term but instead of flying to South Africa ourselves to visit my husband's parents, we flew them over to Leeds so they could meet baby Alexander for the first time and have a holiday overseas themselves! It's been wonderful seeing them again and they've fallen head over heels with Baby A and relished in seeing their first grandchild Oliver again.
Another day, another edition of Funny Things My Kid Says...
Oliver's Pre-School is wonderful. A dream school set in acres of countryside with wooden climbing frames and oat biscuits and fruit at break time. He loves it. I love it. The teachers are kind and nurturing and they pride themselves on keeping us parents informed on our children's development, learning and happiness there.
Wow, a big day for a big boy.
Forget big today was massive. Momentous. Huge. Like the opening ceremony of the Olympics or when Robbie left Take That (then rejoined 15 years later)...Drumroll... It was Oliver's first day at preschool... although anyone would think it was my first day at school, I was so flipping nervous.