I was Born Ready
Niyati had her first day at school this week!
She has been wanting to go to school for a while and has had her bag ready since December 2022. Every morning, she would accompany Nihi till the gate. Her bag was bigger than Nihi’s. Somedays, she would be so upset about not making it to school that Raman thatha has to pacify her with treats. So after 6 months of wait, the day was finally here.
School starts at …. 11?
To make sure Niyati adjusted more seamlessly, the school has asked us to come from 11 to 12 everyday till 9th of June. It took some explaining to Niyati and Nihi as to why she could not accompany Nihi at 8:30 in the morning. By the time it was 10:30, Niyati probably thought that she is not going to school today as well. When I gave her a new dress, she just refused to change from her home T-shirt and shorts. She didn’t believe me till she entered the school premises.
We heard her favourite Lalli song from Swati Muthyam on the way. We arrived 15 minutes early and while I was hesitant to go in ahead of time, Niyati just could not wait. She marched in and pulled me with her like she owned the place all these years.
First things that she did at school? Used the restroom and had her snack along with an anna who was having a banana. Priorities!
The rest of the students and the teacher were singing a lot of songs and making actions. She observed all of it, focusing on finishing her snack. Another teacher Tina aunty, accompanied her throughout. She took to her very naturally. Incidentally, the teachers for Nihi and Niyati know Tamil.
Once her hygiene needs were taken care of, she just took to all the Montessori activities very naturally. She first explored drawing with crayons. She switched from being a leftie to righty there. At home she mostly uses her left. Wonder what she will end up being.
Then was a marathon of activities. Many kids joined her, applauded her when she got it right. She was still wary when someone helped her, since she is used to doing things thane (by herself). Wonder where that comes from (totally me). She wanted to do activities beyond her age too.
Anna, Anna, Anna!
Nihi had told his teacher about Niyati coming to school that day. Apparently, he had specifically said ‘If Niyati troubles me, you shout at her’. And his teacher, Malini aunty, had agreed saying, ‘You are my baby, so if she troubles you… I will definitely shout at her’.
Malini aunty first came and met Niyati and then sent Nihi. Nihi came with his friends to the door and showed Niyati to his friends and went back to whatever he was busy with?! Niyati didn’t see him as she sat away from the door and also had her back to him.
And when Niyati was done and we were going back, she just randomly went towards Nihi’s class and found him there. She was jumping ‘Anna, Anna, Anna!!’ They played together in the sandpit. Their bond is just beautiful.
So Niyati required very little prep for school. She has potty trained herself, just letting go diapers one fine day. Even her school bag has been ready. Like her teacher said, added advantage of a sibling in the school.
We believe the school’s Montessori system also made it very homely and welcomed her into their family. Thank you HeadStart and the teachers!