My baby has started nursery and this requires some getting used to. It seems so much harder to cut the cord with this one but I finally accepted that he had to branch out and spread his little wings. Wanting to wait till September (selfishly on my part so I could hold on to him for as long as possible) he pleaded with me to take him to nursery a couple of weeks ago. Watching his siblings being driven to school daily, jealousy and frustration caused early morning tantrums and I knew I couldn’t prolong his time with me any longer. He needed to enter a mini-society of his own.
Taking him to nursery meant I would be surrounded by a special set of people once again. A team who in turn fostered my other children’s imagination, developed their creativity and helped them develop their own individual personalities whilst making sure they felt loved and secure. I know I am lucky to be back and my youngest is even luckier to be embarking on his individual journey making his first stop at ‘Kokkini Klosti’ (our chosen nursery). But it is sad for me knowing that a chapter in both our lives has come to an end and a new one is beginning.
There is something about this place that exudes warmth, love and safety for both family members and children. So much so that when my child is there I have complete peace of mind. I know I can get on with my morning tasks and be totally at ease. Being at ease is one thing though and forgetting to pick up your child is another!
You are probably wondering how a devoted, caring mother who was not ready for her son to go to nursery was able to forget to pick him up. Anything is possible when you ‘ve got too much on your plate. I have yet to balance out my endless WMC meetings and me and time management is a general issue which I need to master. Up until now, my school run consisted only of collecting my two oldest children at a 1.05. There was no baby to pick up earlier and no stress if I was running a little late with the others.
It was 1.20 and I was already very late and stuck in traffic on route to pick up my children as well as a friend’s child from school. I had made a mental note not to forget my friend’s son because I had dreamt that I had forgotten him on a prior occasion. Instead I forgot my own son! Music in the car did a good job trying to ease my agitation because I knew I was going to get shouted and scolded at by my kids. Leaving them lingering on the pavement in the midday sun is not the most pleasant thing to do after a whole day of school.
Stuck in the jam, WMC took centre stage again! I made a call to clarify somethings up for my website, the car being the best place to make phone calls, when I see call waiting on my screen! It was the nursery. ‘S*** my baby!’. Frantically switching calls, I hear, ‘where are you? We have been calling you endlessly’ It was the nursery! I should have picked up the baby at 12.00. It was 1.20 and I hadn’t picked up anybody. WMC meeting meant I hadn’t looked at the mobile but still, what was wrong with me? It had slipped my mind completely. Moving into full panic mode – scary for me whilst driving as it could have resulted to even worse driving skills, I concentrated on the wheel and ignored the sound of music and the mobile. I was somewhat comforted by the teachers at the nursery that everything was alright and it was fine for me to pass by after collecting the older children. That did little to appease my anxiety and guilt.
After bundling the children into the car I headed home, forgetting to take my son’s friend to his house! Seriously what was wrong with me? I needed to get a grip and stay in the moment. Eventually, after getting it right and everyone being taken to where they were supposed to be, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, collapsed on the bed and gave myself a thorough ticking off, vowing that it would never happen again – till the next time!!!
Seriously though mummies are allowed to make mistakes, it’s inevitable, and even though we get it right in the end we feel guilty and beat ourselves up about it. Truth be told, we are human and we have a lot to contend with, and, although not blameless we need to ease our guilty conscience and pat ourselves on the back because multi- tasking is all in a day’s work and goes with the territory and for most of the time we do a damn good job. Scarily though, I have been told the pressure only gets worse as they get older, could it be that we will have even more to deal with, or is it just that we lose our brain cells along the way?
