Saturday, July 18, 2009

Education Unlimited !!

Well, the wait is finally over... The day has finally come. No, am not talking about some jackpot in the casino... Am talking about the couple of hours I finally get to myself each day, as my little ones strut their way to their school.

Before proceeding any further about their first day in school, let me mention about the admission test they encountered with the principal a few weeks earlier. My elder one( who already has 2 yrs of schooling experience... I am talking as if he is eligible for MBA, coz of 2 yrs of work experience..hehe) But, come on...he's just 5 yrs...and has been going to preschool since he was three, both in Singapore and The US of A. So, I was little worried about him and more ecstatic about the younger one. My second son, who will turn 3, was so happy with the word "school".... we wondered if he misheard it. But, then...he happily went along with the admission test(which included color identification and alphabet and he proved triumphant.) You should see me beam with happiness. My heart swelled with pride and my husband reminded me.. "SShh... They are just going to kindergarten, not to a university!!" But, anything needs a beginning. And I was truly happy for them. But, the cute thing was... my younger one brought along his doctor-set without anyone's knowledge, and was taking out one by one from his pocket. They were like this "kalpataru", a never-ending process. And the funny part was, he began to describe each tool's color, so the test never took off formally. The principal had an inkling of what he knew, and immediately gave her consent for admission. But, to avoid any more embarassment, I now check his pockets before leaving the house. God knows, he might put some live frog or an insect and pull it out on his plate at a restaurant !! Eeeeooow !

So, the next task was to order uniforms and buy shoes for both of them. What a cute experience!! Nothing definitely beats it. What's even more funny is that my husband (who is major fashionista) didn't like the style of the uniform for the nursery kids, and wanted 'something different' for his little prince. I sheepishly reminded him that everyone has to wear the same kind, and so is called a uniform....and my husband reluctantly went along with the tailor ( who couldn't even spell 'nursery' in his book... who cares? He needs to sew properly... so he was saved when we got the uniforms a week later in proper shape).

And the day finally came. And so I thought. My kiddos, who usually tuck into their beds by 10pm... were forcibly being slept by 8.30pm. Their brushes, the shower and the night story...everything was rescheduled an hour earlier than usual, with the major thing coming up in their lives: Waking up as early as 6 am, and going to their temple of education.) So, the kids were being frantic with the schedule and weren't too ready to adapt the new timing. I was very tensed about the right amount of sleep and was having a tough time getting them to bed. That was when my husband calls up and says " Don't worry, the schools are postponed for the next week, due to the excess heat wave!!" Kambakhth heat !! I swore... I was angry...and finally slept off an hour later... My dreams of having an hour for myself have been temporarily shelved, and though it was seeming funny for my hubby dearest, I was just angry for the next half-day or so. (Mind you, my anger and temper are the shortest ones anyone can encounter...so this had to be the longest... ). Another week of waiting, only to realise that they are postponed until the weekend and would start the next monday. By now, the excitement did a plunge downwards and we were just hoping fervently that the heat wave would also take a downward plunge, allowing my day-dreams to turn true.

And, so it did happen.. The kids were thrilled. I was amazed. And my husband was happily taking the video of "My kids' first school". The video had smiling faces, statements like 'feeling on top of the world', but little did anyone know what's in store actually. There were these two-legged awkward creatures, wailing and wallowing all around. First day...seemed something gargantuan for the entire school staff and the parents' presence made it even more cumbersome. My younger one, who suddenly realised that school is "not too much fun and no more mama", wailed like a hurt puppy and clung on to me so badly that I was tempted to take him back. Wait !! My husband reminded me of my good ol school days ( where storm or sun wouldn't deter the great shanthi from going to school)... Are you the same one who is now ready to let her kids bunk school because they are not ready?? I said, YES !! Am the same one.... and then let my emotions not flow along the tide. My puppies were shoved into their respective kennels and my bulldog was waiting by the car to drive away. I quickly realised that if I don't board the car, I would be left stranded with the other dogs, and so I had to follow the bulldog, I mean my husband.

After an emotional drama , which wasn't any less than a saas-bahu saga... we waited near a coffee-shop nearby, just in case we hear from the school staff about any mishap. Luckily, we did'nt hear any and I was just waiting to get back to my whimpering offsprings.' They did pretty OK for the first day' was the statement issued by their respective 'miss'es... and I couldn't ask for more.

That's how we finally sent our sons to ensure they shine like suns. What a statement!!! Come on, any mom will get overboard.. be it their KG or PG.
After all, they are still her sons !!!