Moving to Ireland: First Week of School

PHEW!

We survived the first day of school.

It’s the second day that’s the real killer. And the day after. And the…you get my point.

It’s been an awesome summer. It’s also been a long, long summer. My kids were ready to be with their own kind.

I was ready for them to be with their own kind – for at least a few hours a day.

I was nervous dropping them off though! So nervous. My jazz hands were working overtime that morning to make sure my neuroses didn’t rub off on my kids. Fake it ’til you make it!

The first day of school is always a big deal. First day in a new school in a new country – that’s huge. My kids seemed to take it all in stride though.

I guess my jazz hands worked. Or, more likely, they are better at this than I am.

We take a 10-minute train ride to school. This is partly because there are no school buses in Ireland and partly because the kids aren’t going to school in the town we live in. (I’ll tell you why that is on Monday. Stay tuned.)

I’m getting the “come on, mom!” look here. Clearly, the train is not a big deal to them anymore.

Wearing an uniform to school is a big deal though! Especially for the kid who thinks buttons belong in a torture chamber. I don’t disagree.

Thankfully, uniforms are something every student wears in Ireland, so the kids are quickly getting used to the idea of it. On PE and sports days the kids wear a special “tracksuit.”

After we hop off the train, it takes us just a few minutes to scooter/walk along a pedestrian path to school.

By the way, the kids almost wore out their Razor scooters (similar) this summer, so we upgraded them to the Hudora Scooters with pneumatic wheels. The air-filled wheels mean that I don’t have to listen to the racket of a scooter over bumpy roads and cobblestones all. day. long. If your kids have scooters, you know what I mean. It was driving me batty. (Just watch the prices on Amazon, today I noticed they jacked the prices crazy high.)

This was our view on the first day. That cruise ship in the distance sails, yes sails, to fascinating places like Spain and Portugal.

Part of the reason why my kids love the first day of school is because of our First Day of School Cookie tradition.

I make a giant cookie for each kid to celebrate the first day of school. This is the only day during the year they get a cookie that’s the size of the entire pan. Of course, they don’t eat it all that day, but I’m know they’d try if I let them.

I’m such a mom sometimes. Sheesh.

Clearly, I missed my calling with cookie decorating.

Try not to let my amazing skills dissuade you from trying this at home.

That would be a shame.

Handy Husband and I walked the kids into their classrooms on the first day of school. On the second day of school the kids felt confident enough to handle it on their own, but I needed to drop off some paperwork, so I went inside with them.

My daughter waved goodbye and with barely a backward glance raced off to her classroom. She was already in her groove.

I paused and watched as my son unpacked his backpack. He put away his lunchbox and started to get his daily schedule out of his bin.

Me: (seeing that he had everything under control) Are you good buddy?

Son: Yeah. I’m good.

Me: Okay, I’m going to run upstairs and get this paper signed by the other teacher. Have a good day. I love you!

Son: Okay, mom.

I kissed him on top of the head and turned to walk up the stairs. I was halfway up the stairs when he called out to me.

Son: Mom!

Me: Yeah, buddy?

Son: Can you come back here for a second?

Thinking he needed help with something I walked back down the stairs. Just before I reached the bottom he met me there and grabbed my legs in a big, huge bear hug. Time froze for an instant.

Then he said, “see you later mom!”

And, once again, I melted in a pile of maternal goo.