Changes upon changes

A, typically doesn't like change and has been known to cringe each time I change my hairstyle. Me – I love it, and go out looking for change, whether it's something as simple as changing the look of the house per season or something longer-lasting. Chubbocks takes after his dad in this aspect. When we were changing over from a parent-child class to a child alone class in playschool, he just couldn't take the change. For close on a month we tried – him in the classroom, with teachers he had become accustomed to during his previous class, and us outside, steeling ourselves and wishing we could turn deaf as his distressing wails of 'Call Mamma back' pierced our hearts. We tried permutations and combinations – I went in the first week, then A went. Then we sent him with our maid. Nothing worked and eventually his distress just broke our hearts. We put him back into the accompanied class, and then ensured his maid accompanied him for the rest of the term, not us. And we repeatedly had to talk him through the changes to come so that he could adjust. Luckily, from then on, despite a sudden change of playschool and later his transition into a proper school, he and some of his playschool classmates were in the same batch and sections so it went much more easily. But we've had to learn that he needs to be talked through and prepared for transitions.

So when the time rolled around last Wednesday for Puddi to move into a proper playschool, A and I were anxious. To eb sure Puddi was excited about her new school but we weren't sure how she'd react when she saw her dad walking out of the classroom. Well, as always, Miss Looney surprised us. She walked confidently into class and held her teacher's hand. Mildly clingy, she soon settled down. On day two, A left her at the gate and came back and Miss P managed her schoolday all by herself. Today she's gone excitedly bouncing off, Bob-the-Builder bag slung on her back and a bulging lunchbox within, all excited at going to School! Wow, my baby made it! She's a big girl now!