Friday, October 14, 2011

School daze

So it's happened, Charlie has started school.  This is old news, it's been going on for weeks; it's practically normal.  The other day he turned to me and said 'Mummy - I'm a school boy now!  A school boy!' as if this is a hallowed dream that he has been clutching to his chest along with his nest of buses and model trams.


There he is in his uniform, blowing a kiss as he heads out for his first day and here he is at the end of it, smug as anything.


He already looks like he belongs on the cover of a Clash album in his uniform, he's all crooked tie and un-tucked shirt.  He's a proper boy now, he's rushing away from us at light speed.
 

Already there is pressure on us to conform.  The other day he ordered me not to walk to school, but to drive there, then to wait outside in the car, around the corner... until social services showed up, presumably.

Everyone asks how the settling in process has gone but he has slipped simply and easily into school life and is gaily practising handwriting and phonics as though he's been there ages.

It helps enormously that his school is tiny and that he knows children in almost every year.  It helps that I am standing outside his classroom with parents I met when we were all pregnant.  It helps that his beloved Lizzie is in the class above him and despite her raving beauty and superior age is still willing to be his girlfriend at playtime.


It all helps - him, anyway.  None of this is helping me at all.  This has all been much too easy; if he carries on growing up like this it will be no time at all before he is striding off to university and leaving us to the darkness of life without him.

Frankly I could do with a tantrum; perhaps some begging and a little clutching around the knees before school.  I feel like doing a little of it myself, to be honest.



Don't grow up quite yet, my lovely boy.

10 comments:

Hoto said...

Ooh, fackin lady killa. That's my boy. But where're the brogues? Are those black trainers with velcro? Pffft.

Hoto said...

That 2nd last picture is my favourite!

Where are his droogs?

Ludovico conditioning coming his way!

Kathryn said...

Oh gosh, really!? REALLY?!! Oh wow. But honestly, I *still* remember the battle of Potato Not Boob (well I don't actually remember if it was potato but I just remember it not going well). Small schools are great.

Sparx said...

OK Hoto, YOU buy him brogues... Facking uncles... and yes, it is all a bit Clockwork Orange however currently we are sparing him the eyelid toothpicks.

Kathryn - oh wow, the battle of the boob... it all seems so long ago but really, it was just yesterday... funny how that happens...

Elsie Button said...

WOW he is handsome! I am feeling exactly the same as you :( But great they have slotted in so well and just got on with it.... xx

Jennie said...

*sobs*

Something even more brutal about seeing your boy grow up than my own. Much more meta, much more real some how.

I suspect our boys will be meeting each other somewhere in Italy doing the Eurorail thing. Can't be more than 15-20 minutes until they're off. Too fast.

Sparx said...

Elsie - I know... but is testament to our parenting skills that they're so independant, hey?!!

Jennie - I know exactly what you mean. When they're your own it all happens smoothly and gradually - when it's someone elses child who you only see remotely, the changes are so remarkable. Your two are really really growing fast as well...

D..J. Kirkby said...

Awwwww, he'll ALWAYS be your 'little' boy even when he is grown up with children of his own. *smush*

Sue said...

This must be the first birthday I missed in some years. Happy much belated birthday, Charlie-boy. Can't believe he and Rahul are both in big school now. Charlie in the uniform (especially a la Clash) is adorable.

Sparx said...

DJ - I know I know but it doesn't help with them growing up so fast, does it...!

Hi Sue - I know - I remember when Rahul was teeny tiny, too! Time is definitely fluid... it's running downhill...