Let the coundown begin

If you had spoken to me at the beginning of the summer I would have been tearing my hair out calculating how many weeks were left until my eldest went to Kindergarten. How am I to entertain the monsters? How many times can kids watch a film? What vices can I have as I don't drink or smoke?

This has all changed. I am now seriously worried as there are but 2 weeks until my little lady leaves the fold and is thrown to the lions in the arena of public education.

For over the last 5 years I have been nurturing my child. This has not been easy and I have sworn, lost my temper and done everything the books advise against but I have cuddled, laughed, soothed, played and danced with and generally enjoyed having this precious lady around.

I suppose that I have been avoiding external influences and the thought of her being exposed to all manner of things beyond my control is rather scary. That may sound as if I have been censoring her every move but a parent must have a degree of control. I have kept my eldest away from that purple abomination that is Barney and programs that dumb-down their content believing that children need to be patronised. If you expect little this is all you will get.

Maybe my child will be considered a freak because she watches programs from my childhood, Bagpuss and Trumpton e.g, but it is to be hoped that she will be strong enough to accept and embrace difference.

Different parenting styles will come into play as I will be reminded that certain children are allowed to do whatever with little regard and supervision but a swift reminder that is not how we do things should suffice. I will have to bite my tongue which will be incredibly hard.

I can't control everything now but then I too must embrace change and be more aware and accepting of what I neither know nor understand. I have to let my little lady grow up and embark upon the voyage of discovery that is education. I will support, nurture and learn myself. We will learn together.

As an addendum the little one is driving me to distraction and so I can now begin counting the days until she goes to nursery!