Going to school

So my two year old had his first day at preschool, and I couldn't be more apprehensive. It
had always been difficult for my toddler, right from the beginning, to participate in social
atmospheres, and make acquaintances. Though it is not always easy for many kids from
nuclear families today to be comfortable around random people groups, mine was coupled
with a good round body, an aggressively stubborn streak and a refusal to conform, making it
a brow sweating task for anyone having to deal with my man. As expected, on the first day
of school, my toddler cried for an hour flat. This was difficult for me too, to deal with. But
when I expressed my concerns to the school authorities, they gave me a pretty standardized
response with, "don't worry ma'am, all kids cry in the beginning."

Yes I know that, thanks. I am sure that this was just the start of his beautiful school journey,
with thousands of moments to cherish and countless things to learn. Their young little
excited minds are like lightbulbs, waiting to ignite. Yes I know he will settle. I know he will
have a great time,. Because the one thing that kids can teach us is how to have a great time!

However, are we doing enough to make sure that the child's transition from a safe and
secure home environment out into the big bad world is a smooth one? Why need the child
cry? A crying child is nothing but a child asking to be heard. Let's hear them out. Going to
school is an important milestone for the child, and it's absolutely crucial to get the mindset
right about the concept of school. Apart from basic separation anxiety from the parents, the
child also has to deal with the pressure of learning, right from the beginning. Even if it
saying a simple hello, we have all kinds of tactics to get the child to say it, especially in front
of a social crowd. A preschool going kid cannot understand why he is made to go through
the ordeal of 'giving aunty a kiss' or 'saying hello to the watchman' , whether he likes
him/her or not. Similarly, he cannot understand why the parents leave him and go away for
so long with a roomful of kids and maybe 2-3 strange women who just wouldn't give up.
Would not it be better if the first few days of this wonderful journey were made easier with
more parental involvement? It's alright if my child is not comfortable with his new
environment just yet. Every child is different and takes his own sweet time to adjust.

It's been a week for school and I cannot yet say that my toddler happily trots away to
school, has a great time with his newfound friends and comes home with interesting stories
everyday. No, he cannot talk yet. So I will never know what goes on in that tiny brain of his,
and what he thinks or feels. Sometimes when I look into his eyes after he comes back from
school, I can sense a hint of a feeling of betrayal of trust, a breach of the unspoken promise
of always being there by his side, protecting him from harm's way and standing up for him.
Then he gives me a small paper butterfly they just got in school, and I brush away my guilt.
Being a parent to this beautiful kid I realized the one mistake we musnt make is to gauge
their feelings based on their size. I'm sure schools I have the best of the staff capable of
handling these babies with utmost care. But how can it match with the months of relentless
time and effort of the parent on his child? I'd be most happy if his teacher asked me to help
around, if she sought info on what makes my child tick. I'd love to suggest ways that would
make my child love school (and that's not a phrase parents have heard often!). I know I may
not always be able to protect him and provide for him on every step of the way, and i may
sound like the pushy parent that schools dread to address. But hey! I'm a parent of two boys
like many others, and that should probably come with 'license to act crazy' certificate, ain't
so?