Heart Space #44: Faith schooling experience.
It was so nice being around to send Faith to school. Thank God that I did not miss this important milestone of her life.
The first day for her at Brighton Montessori down at Fort Road was uneventful. We dressed her up in her cute red/yellow pinafore uniform and send her to school. Faith was all so hyped up about going to school. When we reached the school, the principal came out to welcome us and ushered us to the room where teacher Bernie was waiting. When teacher Bernie opened to door to greet us, there was a classroom full of other kids playing and as if welcoming Faith. Faith waved goodbye to us under the instruction from Bernie, and walked in with her. We quickly left the place as the lesser we loiter around the area, the better for her.
Wife cried in the car, maybe in disbelief that our little has grown up, and gone to school. It is probably the first time that Faith is left totally alone with strangers. I think the 20 minute orientation did help a little. Earlier in the week, we brought Faith to be introduced to the school, talked to the teachers and let Faith play around in the room. At the end of the day, when we went to pick her up, the principal came to talk to us. She told us that she did not cry at all and participated in all the activities. She then showed us the photos that she took, and indeed, she looked happy. When the class is finally over, Faith came out happy and seemed to have truly enjoy the class. We thought there will be no more crying and Faith was exceptionally brave.
Day 2 came, and I was back at work. So got a call from the wife saying that Faith would rather go shopping than go to school. After more coaxing and shoving (hee), Faith went into the class crying. When the class finished at the end of the day, the teacher told my wife that after the initial separation, with milk and nap, Faith became alright, read no more crying. We are relived that she didn't cry the whole day.
Day 3 was less uneventful, maybe because she was in her PE attire. :) But according to grandma, she did say that she didn't want to go to school once she sees her porridge being served. She knew that the routine is that after the porridge, she would have to go to school.
Day 4 was the day that grandma has to tell her that "maybe there's a party at the school...." No crying though. :)
Day 5 (today), I told her to be brave again, as part of my daily pat talk. I told her that I will bring her to a playground to play with balls. My bad.. now she says she would play the balls first, then go to school. :( Anyway, managed to convince her that the shops are closed (which she insisted already open at 8am).
Let's see from now on... Can sense the importance of me being around her, as she looks towards me for approval and sense of support. Even in the nightly milk/bed session, she would hold my arm as if her bolster and want me to pat her sleep and sleep beside her. Although her 'reception' of mandarin is still very bad (she kicked mummy when she reads mandarin books to her), she promised that she will listen to the reading from now on.
We shall see...
It was so nice being around to send Faith to school. Thank God that I did not miss this important milestone of her life.
The first day for her at Brighton Montessori down at Fort Road was uneventful. We dressed her up in her cute red/yellow pinafore uniform and send her to school. Faith was all so hyped up about going to school. When we reached the school, the principal came out to welcome us and ushered us to the room where teacher Bernie was waiting. When teacher Bernie opened to door to greet us, there was a classroom full of other kids playing and as if welcoming Faith. Faith waved goodbye to us under the instruction from Bernie, and walked in with her. We quickly left the place as the lesser we loiter around the area, the better for her.
Wife cried in the car, maybe in disbelief that our little has grown up, and gone to school. It is probably the first time that Faith is left totally alone with strangers. I think the 20 minute orientation did help a little. Earlier in the week, we brought Faith to be introduced to the school, talked to the teachers and let Faith play around in the room. At the end of the day, when we went to pick her up, the principal came to talk to us. She told us that she did not cry at all and participated in all the activities. She then showed us the photos that she took, and indeed, she looked happy. When the class is finally over, Faith came out happy and seemed to have truly enjoy the class. We thought there will be no more crying and Faith was exceptionally brave.
Day 2 came, and I was back at work. So got a call from the wife saying that Faith would rather go shopping than go to school. After more coaxing and shoving (hee), Faith went into the class crying. When the class finished at the end of the day, the teacher told my wife that after the initial separation, with milk and nap, Faith became alright, read no more crying. We are relived that she didn't cry the whole day.
Day 3 was less uneventful, maybe because she was in her PE attire. :) But according to grandma, she did say that she didn't want to go to school once she sees her porridge being served. She knew that the routine is that after the porridge, she would have to go to school.
Day 4 was the day that grandma has to tell her that "maybe there's a party at the school...." No crying though. :)
Day 5 (today), I told her to be brave again, as part of my daily pat talk. I told her that I will bring her to a playground to play with balls. My bad.. now she says she would play the balls first, then go to school. :( Anyway, managed to convince her that the shops are closed (which she insisted already open at 8am).
Let's see from now on... Can sense the importance of me being around her, as she looks towards me for approval and sense of support. Even in the nightly milk/bed session, she would hold my arm as if her bolster and want me to pat her sleep and sleep beside her. Although her 'reception' of mandarin is still very bad (she kicked mummy when she reads mandarin books to her), she promised that she will listen to the reading from now on.
We shall see...
