Nico is now one and a half and has just started school

Well, not school school. Although they do call themselves a school. Its more like a play school. Or kindergarten as Benedikt calls it.
His first day went quite well - he didn't even cry when I said goodbye! Although his teacher did call me to please collect him at 10am. Apparently he had been crying a fair bit. Jungle Tots is about 1.5kms from home and is within our secure (boomed off) suburb so its very quick and safe to get there. They only take kids up to age four, so its all very geared up for the little ones. The playground is just amazing! Perfectly sized slides and swings and a big plastic aeroplane and lots of push bikes with a track all the way around. Then they have a wooden puzzle room, a main dancing/music/activities room, and 2 classrooms. Nico is with 9 others, he is the youngest I think as they only take kids from 18 months onwards - he just made it.

I've made friends with one other mum so far, her and her family have just moved up from Durban. Her little boy, Max, and Nico are in the same class.
Its funny this whole school / classroom / teacher / rules / bag packing / writing Nico's name on everything business. I felt nervous myself going there on the first day!

Days 2 and 3 were nowhere as easy as day 1. He cried hysterically when I dropped him off. Well more like wrenched him off me to hand him over, his eyes big with fright and him crying the loudest ever. That didn't bother me too much as I know he was ok, just out of his comfort zone. Its when he looks around during play time later in the morning and doesn't see a familiar face, that's when I want to be there for him. To encourage him and look at whatever he has found.... instead he probably just cries some more because he doesn't recognise anyone. Poor little thing!
I've had to pick him up at 10am every day so far. So I have a measly 2 hours to get things done which is nothing, this morning I spent the entire time at the local home affairs which is always a joy. And I need to work! Nico has to start surviving at school until 12.

On Nico's 18 month birthday I took him to the Bunny Park in Benoni. He loved it!


PS. Nico survived until 12 noon on his 4th day of school. Yeeeeeeeeeeha! I didn't know what to do with all that free time. AND he slept until 3pm when he got home. So thats like almost a whole day. Lets hope this keeps happening