15th April 2016
It was a date that had been etched in my mind since September. The date when we would find out where our little boy would be going to school.
As an eager first time mum I had researched the application process, read up on the local schools and on what criteria pupils were selected. I knew how many places had gone to siblings and the furthest distance from which pupils had been taken the previous year.
I filled in the application form well in advance, and then returned to it to add a supporting statement. I double and triple checked that the application had been sent and then we waited.
Despite all this there was only ever one school we wanted him to go. The same primary school my husband had attended and the one that is a two minute walk from our home, the school that is quite literally around the corner. Our second choice would have been okay but we desperately wanted him to get into our first choice.
My husband repeatedly told me he would be fine, he would easily get in but the natural worrier in me doesn’t like to count my chickens. Because of this, and as I didn’t want to get O’s hopes up in case he didn’t get in, I didn’t talk to O about starting school unless it was in quite a general way. And when talking about it in a general way it doesn’t quite feel real, like it isn’t really happening.
And then the 15th April came around.
I had signed up for email notification as well as through the post. The council had made it clear that emails would be sent from 10am onwards but that didn’t stop me refreshing my phone every few minutes. At 10:06 am the email appeared. For a minute I stared at the title in my inbox, not wanting to open it. Scared of what it might say.
As my husband and the grandparents were waiting to hear the news I didn’t wait too long before clicking open. He was in, at our first choice school, and I burst into tears. Part of that was relief, and happiness that he was in. I had fallen in love with the school on our visit, a small village school with a community feel was exactly what I wanted for O, but the tears were more than that.
That email, the confirmation of his primary place, marked the next stage of his life and the start of a brand new chapter for all of us. There will be uniforms to buy, school runs to do, new friendships to be made. The freedom to spend an hour colouring in sat in M&S cafe with a latte and a glass of milk would no longer be a midweek option for us. For five days a week my son will have to be somewhere else, somewhere where I won’t be, and it seems to have come around far too quickly. That email made the theoretical conversations we had been having become a reality.
I have no doubt that my little boy is ready for school, he loves learning about new things and he loves to spend time with other children. We walk or drive past his school most days and we can now say to him with certainty that is “his school”, and he is excited to be joining the bigger kids in going there. Yes, he is more than ready, it’s me that isn’t.
Good luck to everyone finding out their primary placements tomorrow!
Not sure why but I just burst into tears reading this too… Thinks it’s because my baby is an August girl and I know that unlike her cousin (born less than 2 weeks later) my girl will start school in 2017 and I am NOT READY. She is my second and last child, she is my little Princess. We spend all day everyday together and soon enough I’ll have to apply for her 2017 place. Oh god I’m starting again , where are the tissues ?
Author
My second hasn’t even been born yet and I know I will be even worse when he starts school. People always tell you it goes by so quickly but it really is true! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Yeeah! I’m so glad he got his first choice xXx
Author
Thank you lovely, we did expect it but it was great to see it in black and white! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Brilliant! I’m so pleased he got in. Every time this occurs in our house, I never quite ‘count my chickens’ until I see the confirmation in black and white.
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I never do, I always think there’s someone it has to go wrong for and there’s no reason that it shouldn’t be us! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Oh brilliant news Jo I am so glad he got your first choice and I am sure he will thrive at school. I remember all too well feeling exactly how you did last year, although with more of a palava as we had to reapply twice, but with such similar emotions. It is emotional, it is sad and I hated every minute of the build up and the first couple of weeks. But now she is all settled and loves school and that makes it easier, she has never once complained about going. I would still rather have her with me but I know how much she loves it and the emotions do calm down. xx
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Thanks Katie, I’m sure he will love it! I drove past his school today and they had an after school football club going on and I just thought O would love that so much. I can’t help but feel nervous for him but I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine and in a few months time I won’t remember what I was worrying for. xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Aww! That is wonderful news. Congratulations. I am so pleased for you x
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Thank you, it was such a relief! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Aww that is fab! Must have been quite a stress for you so you’ll be glad it’s over with. We don’t have admissions like this in Scotland unless it’s a placing request for a school that isn’t in your catchment area.
Author
I tried not to think about it too much as it was driving me crackers, so nerve-wracking though! x
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Brilliant brilliant news. I’m in utter denial that in just 12 months this will be me and my babies – I’ll be feeling exactly the same though xx
Author
Arghh, how can the twins be old enough for school next year!! Where is all the time going?? xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Congratulations on getting your first choice. It’s a big step them starting school but also very exciting! My daughter loves school and it’s hard to believe she is going into year 4 in September. It really doesn’t seem long since I first bought those first school shoes #marvmondays
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I think it’ll be buying the uniform that will make me the most emotional, such a little grown up! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
We had the same thing last year for my daughter, she didn’t get into her first choice and whilst our second choice was a great school it takes me two hours walking there and back each day. I’m not even any fitter than I was when she started in September! But she’s really happy there. #MarvMondays
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Our second choice was only a 15 minute walk away and has a very good reputation and we do know some children that go there, but it is a Catholic school and we’re not Catholic so I was never fully comfortable with him going there. x
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Yaay to getting into the school you wanted but I also understand the tears too. It is the next step and although our littles one are very ready we might not be yet #marvmonday
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He’s more than ready, he probably would have been happy to go last year as he is one of the eldest in his year but it feels like such a huge step! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Schoolboy
Congratulations on getting the school you wanted 🙂 It’s such a stressful process – not just the applications and the uncertainty, but having to acknowledge that they’re growing up and becoming more independent. It takes a bit of getting used to 🙂 All the best with the next exciting stage of childhood
Yay congratulations!! I totally get the tears as I was the same last year and to be honest I still feel sad when I think back. I won’t lie it took us all quite a while to get used to our new routine but we did get there in the end!! Good luck! Xx
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I’m so glad that he got into his first choice Jo, it is so nerve-wrecking even if you do think that it will be ok. It’s so sweet reading all these posts after going through it last year, I remember feeling exactly the same and I bet O will love it xx
That is just the loveliest news! I am so pleased for you all. I know so many people that have been on this journey and it really is such a big milestone. Its fantastic that you got your first choice, I cant even begin to imagine how excited you all must be. I cant wait to hear more about all the school days firsts in the next few months 🙂 Congrats lovely.Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays. Emily