School.

Today I sent my baby to school. I have no particular feeling of wistfulness, or sadness, but just a sense of the closing of a chapter. Ruby reacted the way I thought she would, veering from excited to nervous and back again. By the time we went into the classroom she had worked herself into a state and I had to prise her arms from around my neck and leave her crying in the firm grasp of the teacher's aide (who knows Ruby well and often chats to her in the playground). I had to do some things in the canteen for about 45 minutes then, and when I left the school just before 10am, I saw Ruby walking happily, hand-in-hand with her Year 6 Buddy, no sign of the tears. She gave me a big wave and smiled and then followed her class. When she came home this afternoon she was exhausted and grumpy- just another normal day!

I am feeling a little calmer about the organisation behind going back to Uni. The kids are now enrolled at after care, and I think they are quite excited about it, as they offer fun programs. A friend has very generously and kindly offered to have the kids at her house from 7.30- 8.30am on the 2 mornings I have to leave early. She lives just down the street from school, and will be able to help them cross the busy road and then they will be right to walk to the gates on their own. I have been making them practice each morning, by walking behind them and watching how they cross the little road right next to the school. I feel a bit like a stalker...

My biggest worry though is still Dexie. He refused to go into school on Monday and became quite distressed, saying he wasn't ready. All to do with moving to a new classroom, new grade etc. Thank goodness he has the same teacher as last year. She took him into class calmly and he was fine within 20 minutes, and has been happy to go every morning since. But I've spoken to the school counsellor about the fact that his routine will be drastically changing, and she's given me some tips.

Now I need to go and put my feet up and watch some tv. Oh, the humidity we have had lately! It is so disgusting, like a wet blanket. Ugh. February is not a good month.