Shopping

Took the boy shopping to Phoenix Mall.

He insisted he will not get bored and there was a promise of buying pastries.

The boy managed to hold on for a couple of hours before hunger kicked in and insisted on having a cake.

Class 1

And the boy goes off to Class 1. Just like that.

Time flies.

First time in a school bus, t-shirt tucked in, belt, shoes, backpack and all. Thankfully he has 2 friends from the apartment.

It is a strain on the wife. We have to be up by 530 am to pack his breakfast and lunch. The school is 10 km away.

The bus picks him up between 710 am and 715 am. School gates close by 815 am, he leaves school after 3 pm and he is home before 4 pm. In bed by 730 pm. Any delay in sleeping, it shows up in the form of crankiness the next day.

I do feel bad that he has to wake up so early and go through bumpy roads to get to school. So far he has been enjoying it. Although he keeps comparing his current teacher to his VNM teacher. I believe has to get used to being uncomfortable. If required we may have to move closer to school.

The food boxes have been coming back empty except for 1 day when the boy said the dosa was soggy (the wife asked him the meaning of soggy but he didn't know). And this is not the first time he is taking dosa to school. We have specifically told him to use the loo before he boards the bus and not to sit in the last seat.

The boy is excited and looking forward to skating, football, karate and music classes. And starting of this month, we also restarted his weekend football classes.

Swimming

And the boy has managed to swim with hand floats. He is not scared of water or the deep pool. It is not the ideal way to swim - his head is above water, he paddles with his arms and legs and moves forward.

Pench Kanha

Trip to Pench and Kanha

The boy had his second visit to a national park. He managed it well, didn't fuss too much. We went through 4 safaris. He got up early and was ready for them. Although half way through the safari he fell asleep.

M3 Graduation

Today was Graduation Day for the boy. He has moved out from M3. Next is Grade 1.

Over the last 2 years his school has been his second home. Correction - first home more like I think.

He has evolved, created an identity of his own and whatever I could wish for a child at his age, the school has provided (except learning not to throw tantrums at home which can never be learnt).

As he was on the stage today receiving the certificate, the parents were applauding and taking photos, it sunk in that the boy is growing and that he will move out of his safe cocoon of VNM which gave him an opportunity to be himself, know his strengths and grow.

I can't thank his teachers, the support staff, his classmates and the other parents enough for this wonderful 2 years.

And as I was folding away his uniform I realized that he will not be wearing this anymore.
There will be no having milk at 7 am followed by bath, rushing to gate at 745, waiting for Pasha to pick and drop him.
There will no observation sessions in school.
There will be no updates on Uolo notes and the eager wait to see the pictures from their events.
There will be no report card uploaded.
There will be no thrill of seeing the boy with his small wins - the first addition, subtraction, multiplication and the whole thing about fractions.
There will be no presentations, cultural day at school, music sessions with Ivan Sir.

Not at VNM anymore.

In another 2 months, it will be another school and a different environment. I believe the boy will adapt well.

I am already missing VNM.

Making reading a habit

We started borrowing books from British Council Library for the boy. Very good collection and the boy has been reading up all of them.

In the pool

The boy has been scared of water and most of his time in the swimming pool was in the baby pool.

Yesterday he decided to get out of his comfort zone  He wore the float and asked me to lead him into the deep pool. I was skeptical but he did well! Gently paddled with his arms and even asked me to leave him alone. It took a lot of work to get him out of the pool finally!