PonyTales

Today is the 4th day of school and day care for Zoe, and I have learned quite a lot and also suffer quite a bit….hahaha

I learned that first day of school was quite a shock to Zoe as the teacher was not able to comprehend her message - new teacher, young, no children. She was probably forced to do a couple of things according to schedule, eg sleep in a big room. This has angered little Zoe, who can be quite hot-tempered when provoked. Whenever she see her teacher, she will yell out loud and cry instantly. She seems to be ok with others.

Past 2 days, it has been the crying out method because this Mommy has no idea yet how to make this transition easier for little Zoe.

It broke my heart and Daddy’s heart everytime Zoe cry while we leave the school. The crying out method is really not my cup of tea, nor Zoe’s. I am afraid that she will start to hate school and think that Mommy like to dump her there. Time for damage control!

Out of desperation, the mind really works and I told Daddy my strategy for today. We have to respect her and let her build her trust with the teachers and school first. Let her be with people she likes. We must let her understand that school has lots of friends. Lots of kor-kor or che-che to play with too. That is always a plus point for Zoe as she loves to be among other kids.

For a start, we have to let her warm up to the school and not feel like she is being dumped at a foreign place. I get Dadddy to tell her teacher not to approach us immediately and sorta frighten her, just let me handle the introduction and overview part. I walked with her for a couple of minutes around the school, identify things she likes - playground, fishes, toys…show her some other che-che and kor-kor around. She was still unsure at first, but later warm up a little. Thank God that there was a teacher that she likes and she quickly pointed out to that teacher when she saw her. The teacher greeted her and held her hands and both of them proceeded to the office area for some fun. Yup, Zoe prefers the office more than her classroom. Past 2 days she has been spending time in the office as well, doing her activities there (probably terrorising a couple of office staffs…oops). I also learned later that she has even joined the staff meeting, siting on the principal lap and scribble a full A4 page. Probably, taking down meeting minutes…lol

Phew!…no crying today and intro part is done. 

I must talk to her teacher more and let the teacher know Zoe’s preferences and ways. This is a transition period, so she will have to build Zoe’s trust in her first. It will not come easy and it takes time even for a child. She will have to gently approach her and learned to earn her trust. Offer her things she likes to gain brownie points. Slowly, Zoe will find it fun to be with her again.

Toddlers are not babies anymore who do not have much sense of self. They know who they are, have little characters and can tell what they like or don’t like. Getting them to warm up to a new place is not the same anymore. We have to slowly build their trust.

Still, I pray to God that this transition period will not take too long to pass. I am looking forward to the time Zoe wave bye bye to me confidently and cannot wait to join her friends and teachers in play school. Amen!

Yesterday when I pick Zoe up at 6:45pm, I saw a teary eyed little girl…my heart sank a little. So, she did cry for Mommy and Daddy huh…

According to her teacher, she cried when it was time for napping at 2pm. She is not used to nap in a room with other children and she was kinda shocked to see everyone have a little bed to nap in a big room. Zoe ended up napping in the principal office…sigh…first day already "masuk" principal office  She slept for almost 2 hours later. Actually, when she is at home, she also like to put up a fight with me before she naps, that tired her out and she will sleep peacefully after that…lol

Teacher also reported that she started asking, "Mommy?", "Daddy?" when she see some other children go home with their parents. I guess things really started to sink in now for her…

Teacher said she ate very well thou and could finish her food and eat by herself with little help. I packed some cheese and yougurt for her and she finish all that as well, on top of the food the kindy provide.

Yesterday night dinner she ate very well too, finish 1.5 bowl of ABC corn soup and a bowl of rice with steam fish and carrots.

We continously encourage her and tell her nice things about school. She seems ok.

This morning she was the usual cheerful self and when I hand her over to the teacher, she lean over to be carried. But, just less than 2 minutes she wanted me back. So I let her walk to the playground and big aquarium to chill and relax. She was back to her cheerful self again as she loves playground and fish. Shortly after, we heard another toddler arrived crying and she got interested and asked me, "Oooh?"…geez, this is gonna trigger her anxiety ler….

Yup, she cried along as well when the teacher carry her into the room as Daddy and me wave bye bye to her.  This is the transition phase and it usually take a week or two to settle, depending on the child clingyness, might be longer. The teacher told me Zoe is considered independent from their observations, she only cry a little and is easily distracted by activities/games. Daddy also commented that she seems to have grown up quite a bit these few days. Well, this transition also helps a child to grow, according to some articles from experts.

I just hope that she get used to the routine soon and find it all enjoyable again. This evening when I pick her up, I gotta reassure her more to make it work. 

"Yes! We did it! We did it!…", that is how Dora the Explorer sing her songs everytime she accomplishes her goals. A very positive, independent and adventurous girl. I kinda like Dora for that!

Zoe loves Dora the Explorer now, maybe more than Barney…hahaha!

Today is the official first day of play school for Zoe, which is the reason I want to write this post no matter how busy I am chasing deadlines. All I can say for now is Zoe has made us proud and I have come to see and realise her independence also (how come I was so ignorant of her ability…geez). Something which I have very little confidence a couple of weeks ago when we were still scouting for a playschool and day care for her.

My anxiety really peak the whole of last week that resulted in me having migrain for 4 days. The feeling is worse than me changing job…hahaha!

Last Saturday we sent her for half day until 1pm. I can see that she truly enjoy herself there. She can understand the teacher’s instructions and follow right thru everything that she needs to do. The teacher gave me a reassured look (yea, I needed it!) and give us the thumbs up to indicate to us Zoe did well. I was still anxious and was hopping from one pillar to the other hiding behind it while trying to peep at Zoe. Up to a point that Daddy told me I gotta let go and make a move. We shall see how she fare later.

We returned at 1pm to pick her. The moment we step in, the teacher there gave us a big smile and gave us the thumbs up again. I quickly ask her how Zoe did and whether she cried or gave everyone a hard time. Teacher told me she is amazing, very independent and enjoy herself there. I ask whether she asked for Daddy or Mommy? "Nope, not at all!", says the teacher. At this point, one part of me is damn proud of my little girl but another part of me has this mixed feelings that is so hard to describe…its like my mind asking…"Where is my little baby who clings to me and needed me all the time!?…that tiny little one that I gave birth to?" Hahaha…strange yea that I am so weak but Zoe is all good and happy in the new place.

Once Zoe realised we were there, she smile and quickly wanted to reach for me. She was doing some montesorri activity that time, scooping beans from one bowl to another. The teacher made her put back the tray of bowl and beans to the proper place before she come to us. She follow right thru without a single complain.  Such obedience, something which I find it hard to do at home with her cause she is so stubborn at home. Anyhow, I will make it a point to learn some skills from the teacher soon…hahaha!

Back to this morning, her official first day and she look so tiny in her uniform. We sent her together, cause this lousy Mommy is having the anxiousness again. Teacher Soo greeted us as we are the earliest there at 7:30am. I was still carrying Zoe and when Teacher Soo greeted Zoe and held out her arms to her, she immediately lean over to the teacher and let Teacher Soo carry her into the toddler’s room. Teacher Soo gave me an assured smile and proceeded to get some snacks for Zoe. Looks like this Mommy needs more assurances from the teacher than little Zoe….sigh….

Teacher Soo asked Zoe to say bye bye to us. She followed and wave bye bye to us….Awwww! I was speechless by then and just trying to hold on to my composure so that I do not do anything silly that will break the peace at that time. Teacher Soo proceeded to bring Zoe to the canteen and was out of sight a moment later. I was still standing there trying to peep until Daddy gave me a nudge to go.

"That’s it! We did it, we did it!" Just like that and my little Zoe (all 22 months and 2 days old) is now schooling already. Yea yea…its’ just a play school, not really that real real school right. But I guess the anxiousness I suffer is gonna probably be the same 5 years down the road, or maybe worse. Nevertheless, we are very proud of Zoe and we hope and pray that she will enjoy herself truly in this new place. Thank God for answering our prayers and walking together with us in this journey, all these time. Amen!