And She's Off...

Thursday was the first day of Reception for M here in London. She is not yet four and a half and she is starting formal schooling, proper uniform and all.

I missed her more around the house the two days she was in school last week. I guess it's because I know that her growing up is going to continue to go at a speed I am not ready for.

Change is hard. Especially when you're 4.

Or 36 and pregnant.

Thursday was a really hard day for me. I cried a lot. I'll blame it on the pregnancy hormones but if you know me, I'm a cryer.

I'm E X T R E M E L Y proud of the person she is becoming but of course I worry about her sweet little self navigating the big school world without us.

I've never been so happy to see M's beaming smile and feel her little arms hug me when I picked her up.

She had two excellent days but M asked for her nursery teachers back on Friday afternoon. She said because "They were so nice."

And I completely get that. I want them back too.

M's nursery experience was above and beyond what we could have imagined. The teachers, the children and the families were an extra special group. Some of them have become our best friends here in London.

Her nursery teachers even checked in with me as they wanted to see how M's first day was. They were truly the best teachers for M and I never once worried about her at nursery.

As I said, change is hard. Trusting new people with your child is really, really hard.

While first impressions aren't everything, Davis and I know we will come around to her new teachers as we are confident in our school choice. They certainly have a lot to live up to after last year. I know that might be harsh and it probably is but being a former first grade teacher, I find myself expecting a lot in M's teachers.

(Note: For those of you not familiar with the UK education system, Reception is the equivalent to Kindergarten in the US. However, children in the UK begin the school year they are to turn 5, whereas children in the US begin K the school year they are to turn 6.)