Carrie 2nd day at school - 2 Dec 09

On Carrie's 2nd day at school, grandpa drove her to school. With the information i've gathered after the first day, I have these pointers in mind.

1) Make farewell swift - say your goodbye, tell her when you will pick her up and LEAVE

2) On the way to school, don't mention about separation. Instead focus on the interesting things she can do in school.

3) Watch my own feelings. Make it light hearted. Kids can easily catch any anxiety in adults and will think "something must be wrong in school for mummy to be so anxious !" This will not help in their confidence.

4) Give her a piece of mummy - i gave her a card from my wallet (she loves playing with my wallet) and asked her to keep for me while i leave to buy things.

Though armed with the above, naturally she still cry when the teacher carried her away. Remembering the points above, I maintained my smile and waved goodbye.

But of course, I didn't leave, I lingered outside and act like a peeping tom, peeping into the classroom carefully so she would not see me.

I went to sit at a far corner so i won't hear her cries and break my heart out there along the corridor. About 20mins later, i went back to check on her. Gosh..could still hear her sobs. Slowly she stopped crying and was sipping water. The school got a teacher to be attached to her as Carrie needs a lot of hugs to feel secure. And the teacher conversed in mandarin, that helped as we spoke to her in Mandarin at home as well. Anything familiar helps. That calmed her down a lot i think. I left after she stopped crying.

As promised, i went back to school to pick her up after their lunch. As i peeped into the room, Carrie is so cute with her chubby face. She's not crying anymore and sat there eating her lunch and dessert. Haha.. the teacher said she enjoyed the fruit jelly very much and got 2 portions ! I still hide myself from her view. After lunch, as other kids queued up to bathe, she quietly sat there, so cute and good girl. There's a younger girl sitting in front of her, Carrie played with her gently. I'm happy to see she interacting with other kids in school.

The teacher brought her to the door for me to pick her up, i welcomed her with my biggest smile. And YES ! She smiled broadly back. I brought her doll along to pick her up and that made her laugh.

My little girl has survived her 2nd day in school !! which is even worth celebrating for as its her first day in school ON HER OWN (though its only half day). Good girl, mummy is proud of you ! Muahh !

pics & video taken on 1 dec 09 - carrie's first day

Carrie waving goodbye to the other kids when i am bringing her home on her first day.