A Day of Firsts

Well today my baby went off to kindy for the first time. After almost 11 years of having a young one by my side each and every day (sometimes 2 young ones and for a short time 3 young ones!!) it felt really surreal to drop Maxie off and walk out the gate alone. When we woke him up this morning he cried and told us he didn't want to go to Kindy. My mothers heart cried on the inside too, and part of me didn't want him to go either, but another side of me knew it was time. He needs to socialize more, have interesting things to do, and Shane and I need to do our learning and prep for Ethiopia without him, so it was perfect timing really!
So instead of going out with the 'girls' for coffee, or going home to read a book, or heading to a gym class (all things I may have imagined doing on this momentous day) I raced back to St Andrews Hall with Isabella (her son Tim goes with Max to kindy.......having a friend to go with made all the difference for Max! Thankyou God for that provision) and we began our first day of 'mission training'. Lots of information, head is spinning, feeling quite inadequate considering I realised yesterday I've never even spoken or had personal contact with a Muslim. Had dark moments when awake in the night an wondered what are we thinking of doing?
The other 3 kids all headed off for the 1st day of school where they haven't known anyone. Our last school move had their beloved cousins and it was exciting to go, but this was just plain scary. As I watched their faces get ready for school, and I saw them ride off, I wanted to cry for them, and save them the anxiety. Perhaps having 2 bad nights of sleep also made this worse, but it was the most nerve racking morning and I felt each one of their feelings.......so I got it x3 as bad. Who would be a Mum???
However the first day is over and thankyou God I got 3 smiling kids back and great reports about school!! Tom's teacher is the 'coolest' in the school, and called Mike. He had PE first up, and they don't have to sit at desks.....so Tom chose to work and sit on a lounge all day!!! School aint what it used to be! Oli's got 3 teachers, the best is Tommo, there are no desks, he sat or lay on the floor all day, and they only have one workbook for everything (I guess there's less to lose!!!) Lucy had a relief teacher which made it a bit harder, but she did have a boy in her class who wore a Michael Jackson wig all day!!!
So there you have our first day of routine for Melbourne living. We all survived it, in fact the kids enjoyed it, so I can at last sleep well tonight knowing the unknown!!