Tuesday 7 September 2010

The Gallery: Back to school


The little patter of footsteps climbing down from a bunkbed interrupts my dreams at 6.30am this morning. It's only just light outside, the sun rising in a clear, cloudless September sky. The little warm body climbs into bed, and slips next to me. Then I hear the small, tired voice, asking: "Mummy?"

"Yes?" I reply sleepily.

"Did I miss the bus?"

It's a big day for Littleboy 1. Not only his first day as a kindergarten student at 'big school', but his first day riding the schoolbus. Luckily, when we leave the house at 8am, we are in plenty of time, walking the 20 or so yards to the designated bus stop. We walk with the little boy next door, a good friend of Littleboy 1's, who by a stroke of luck is in the same class (it's a big school, so there was only a one in five chance of that happening), and also has a big sister, who will help them both find their classroom. They're both excited. His friend tells him at the bus stop, 'No crying for Mommy on the bus', and they both dissolve into laughter.

After a couple of minutes, the big yellow bus pulls up, lights flashing. Littleboy 1 is at the steps before I've even had a chance to wish him luck and say goodbye. I just about manage to give him a kiss before he's away, first up the steps and busy choosing his seat.

As the bus draws away, I see him wave. My baby, off into the big wide world.
This post is for this week's Gallery at Sticky Fingers. Topic: Back to school.

16 comments:

Jen Walshaw said...

Hopw wonderful and a big yellow bug to remember too

Calif Lorna said...

That seems so young to be getting on a bus all by yourself. How lovely that he's so confident. I bet he had a great first day.

Anonymous said...

That's such a huge step! (I guess this isn't the time to tell you all my stories about riding the bus at that age, though. Might scare you!)

~Uly

Tanya (Bump2Basics) said...

Awww, I hope that school and the bus ride went well for Littleboy 1! I have a number of vivid memories of riding the bus at that age and chatting with my bus driver Sam. He had a mug that read "It's a shitty day in paradise" next to the wheel. I might have given my mom a bit of a shocker when I went home and asked about that one!

Anonymous said...

Huge adventure - and sounds to be grabbing it with both hands!
x

Iota said...

Oh, well done him, and you too. It's a milestone of huge proportions.

The yellow school buses are such a part of life here, aren't they? The word "iconic" really is appropriate. Funnily enough, the boys had a toy yellow American school bus - don't know where it came from. Then we moved here and I saw that, yes, that's really what they're all like!

Almost American said...

Hope he had a great day!

Elsie Button said...

oh lovely! such a big day for a little boy. (i had a lump in my throat)

Nota Bene said...

...and I bet you cried...brilliant to see the bus - if only we had something as iconic over here...

Deer Baby said...

Great post - sounds like he's a confident little boy. He'll be fine.

It's the bus that gets me. It is iconic. I've seen it in so many films. It just sums up school.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post. Love the yellow bus, always wanted to go on one when I was little!

Harriet said...

I hope he had a wonderful day! Like everyone else I'm fascinated by the bus though - the walk across the park isn't going to be anything like that exciting...

nappy valley girl said...

The first two days went very well. Still very bouncy on his return home and very positive about school. Funniest comment so far: "And then my teacher played the violin to us." (I later found out she plays the guitar...).

Kerry B said...

My little boy started school this week too! Thankfully no tears - not even from me!!

angelsandurchinsblog said...

Ooh, the excitement! Hope he had a great time. Just make sure you don't overtake a yellow bus once it's stopped. A friend did that in the US and got fined a huuuuge amount!

nappy valley girl said...

A+U - don't worry, that is about the first thing you learn in the US driving test!