Becky is coming to the end of her nursery days, as she’s
starting school in September. I know she is soooo ready for it, but I can’t help
but feel a little bit sad that this chapter has come to an end.
She was ten months old when she first started going to
nursery and I returned to my full time job as magazine editor.
It’s been a brilliant (almost) four years that she has spent
at nursery, and I have absolutely no regrets or guilt about that, but look back
at this time with fondness and a lot of gratitude to the nursery staff who have
helped look after my little girl for all this time.
They have become very close to Becky and
have been important people in her life that she has grown very attached to. They were
there for her at key stages and have supported her development throughout. And I, too, have become very fond of them and our morning drop-off and
evening pick-up routine, our chats and catch-ups about Becky’s day etc.
But I am grateful for Becky’s time at nursery in more than
one way. I believe going to nursery has been good for her, vital for her development and has helped shape her character, personality and
generally progress.
She is such an open, friendly and outgoing little thing, more
so than many other kids her age and within our group of friends / peers / acquaintances,
and I credit nursery with a lot of that. She has been used to being with and
around other kids from a young age and has had the chance to develop essential
social skills and interact with peers in a positive manner, and even difficult
situations, learning to cope with arguments or confrontations, that I’m sure
have set her up for life. She never seems fazed by large groups of boys and
girls or approaching children she doesn’t know at playgroups or playgrounds
etc. and easily forms relationships.
She’s made lots of friends over the years, so many beautiful
strong bonds, and it’s a pleasure to see those continue and strengthen each day.
I met my best friend at kindergarten, and she is still my closest and
best friend some 35+ years later, and I really hope that Becky will have the
same experience.
Luckily, she will be going to school with quite a few of her
friends from nursery, and again, I’m glad that she already has a strong, familiar
network of peers that she will make the transition with.
Having worked full time, I’ve relied on the nursery set-up.
But even if I hadn’t been in a demanding career, I
still would have wanted Becky to be at nursery, as I would have never been able
to give her the stimulation, variety and fun at home that she had there. I’m
not overly maternal and before I had kids I had never been particularly exposed
to little ones – apart from holding someone’s newborn for ten minutes – so I
would have struggled to entertain her in the consistent way her bright and sharp mind has
needed.
And I’m glad that Alex is now benefiting from the same
nursery and the same level of great care as Becky has (though I am very pleased
that our double full time childcare bill will finally be reduced come September!).
For us, nursery has been a brilliant experience with people
Becky and the rest of the family love and respect, and we can only recommend it.
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