I remember doing a teaching prac with year 3 kids when Immy was in Prep. I thought they were so old and wondered if some of the ‘childish’ things I did with them were too young. Now Japs is in year 4 and he loves some of the songs I sang with them and games we played.
When Immy was in Prep I remember seeing the year 7 kids go off to Canberra for their annual trip. I thought they seemed so old. So mature. So ready for high school. Tomorrow Immy leaves for her week in the cold. I am trying to work out if she seems older than the kids from 7 years ago. I suspect she does. Heck, she is as tall as me and has bigger feet- she can act her age and her shoe size!
I wonder if part of this trip is to give parents a rest from the adolescent behaviour. If so, the teachers deserve medals!
Anxious to see her go, yes, but also proud. Proud at her excitement. Her zest for learning. She is dying to see Parliament House and the War Memorial and can hardly wait for their day at the snow. These are kids who have grown up in the tropics and unless they have gone south at Winter have never worn more than 2 thin layers of clothing! Immy has never been to the snowfields. She may have seen a bit of snow on an England trip on January.
I am jealous. I have some awesome friends in Canberra and I wish I was going down to catch up with them. I wish I could spend 2 and a half hours at the National Gallery. I wish I could go to Questacon after hours!
From year 3 they have been on camp. Usually 2 nights away. This is longer. Plus she will stay on and catch up with her paternal grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. I am thrilled for this as she hasn’t seen them for a while. But I am still a little anxious. For 5 nights teachers will be with her 24/7 and see her moods and her behaviour. So many times I have been told they are so different at school to home. Not sure how they will be away from both. With their friends. With those they don’t get along with. With kids from the other campus who have reputations they haven’t deserved. I have reminded Immy that even though she has been told that the year 7 girls from the other campus are bitches, they have probably been told that the year 7 girls from her campus are bitches too!
She will be fine. She will have a ball. I know that. Japs, MIML™ and I are trying to work out what foods Immy won’t eat to gorge on them whilst she is away. It will definitely be quiet. It will be good. For all of us.
Enjoy yourself, Im! Take lots of photos and be open minded! This is all part of the growth process. Part of growing up. In another 7 years you will have left school. You may be at uni, you may be travelling, but I hope you will still be learning, just as I am.
