Little Bee stepped onto the threshold of a new episode in her little life with formal school towards the last quarter of 2009. Her journey was a wee bit bumpy initially, but she was sailing smoothly shortly after, receiving positive reviews from her preschool teachers. She had learned independence and we will accept that she would soon be like Big Bee, leading a separate life on her own, away from us.
In HK Disneyland in front of her favourite princesses
This year, Little Bee is in a new school for N2, moving back to her sister's old school where fond memories of laughter, nurturing love and wide green spaces are still indelible in my mind. I took the school bus with her on the first day, but sat away from her, and I was pleased to see her happy and settled, not in any way shocked or surprised by the happenings of the first school day. In school, she settled down without any difficulty, adjusting well to her new teacher, who was coincidentally Big Bee's N2 ex-teacher! Everyone in the school still remembered Big Bee, and commented on the similarities between Big Bee and Little Bee.
With her jiejie in front of "It's A Small World Ride"
In class, Little Bee immediately sat down and started scribbling some alphabets on a blank piece of paper. Her proper demeanour and sobriety when writing indicated that she could differentiate "schooling" activities versus home ones! She gazed at crying children with maturity and calmness, and then went on confidently with quiet play.
The first letters she scribbled in class...I wonder who is Mae?!
Thereafter, throughout the week, she was excitedly preparing for school everyday, happily arranging her uniform and eagerly anticipating the school bus. One evening, when we fetched her home ourselves, she expressed her disappointment, asking us, "Papa fetching me? Huh? No school bus? I want school bus!!" *scowled*
Every evening when I asked her how was school, she would give me an upbeat "VERY FUN!!" She was able to accurately tell me what she ate, and even explained to me what they learned in class. She seemed to be settling well socially, telling me she has a lot of friends, and confiding in me that there are "naughty children in the class who run (sic) around" but that she was a good girl, sitting down quietly.
Her first Chinese words to recognise, together with her version of herself...smiling and happy in class!
With both kids going to school, I cannot help but feel that Hubby and I are getting older and that another phase in our lives is starting...
No comments:
Post a Comment