Tomorrow Is The Big Day

Yes, tomorrow Brian starts Kindy and I wanted to get a few thoughts written down because as soon as you live it your perspective changes.  We'll go with bullet points:

• My feelings right now are nothing more than I am incredibly tired.  Labels ironed on clothes and stuck on EVERYTHING else.  Morning tea and lunch made.  Drink bottle chilling (have confirmed our regular ice blocks fit into the mouth of the bottle).  Clothes ironed, bag packed.  Picture chart of the "getting ready" process affixed to inside of pantry door.
• The last few days I've stopped thinking about myself in this process and realised that Brian is going through his own emotions.  There have been a couple of days of no afternoon sleeps purely because he doesn't want to be away from me.  There have been (and this might just be age) episodes of behaviour (involving a lot of "no, I won't do it") that I really don't like.  Brian's blankie, normally reserved only for bedtime has come out of his room and been used for a myriad of things - the cutest being a table cloth for a restaurant he set up just for me.  Lots of snuggles and cuddles and tears.
• I woke up this morning nervous.  My parent's will tell you I'm a VERY nervous person when it comes to big deals in my life.  When you know your child is nervous, I'm finding this feeling much worse.  But I'm dealing with it.  Brian is going to love Kindy - the activities, the opportunities, the structure, the attention.
• I will do my best tomorrow morning to help Brian settle in.  I've decided on taking the stroller (smaller than the pram and easier than the Baby Bjorn) into the classroom so I can leave Simon and focus on Brian.  He likes to know things - what happens, how it works, where things are - and that comforts him. He is excited but I did catch him chatting in his room about 30 minutes ago.  He was talking about Kindy and his teacher.  As we tucked him in we told him he could pretend to be Mister Maker (Kindys always have awesome art supplies).  He said he would tell Mrs M that he was "regular Brian, back to normal".  I had to explain it's meaning to Kevin.  (After pretending to be someone he always tells you when he's back to himself).
• Of course we will be doing the "first day photo" thing.  I've decided to keep it super simple (for Brian's sake), a couple of shots in front of the garage (a la images from my childhood).  My parent's have confirmed they are coming to visit after his second day - just to check up on their little man.  I have bought special snacks for the occasion.  Brian will be excited to tell them all about it.  I've also told Brian that if he does a drawing it will go in "Mummy's scrapbook" - the poor child knows it's called Project Life.  
• And there is that Mum in me that hopes he has a great day.  Makes new friends, loves playing, is super dooper excited about his special lunch (the kind we can't afford to keep up past week 1).  Please no back chatting to the teachers, no telling his new potential friends what to do, no kicking off his pants in the middle of the playground and running to the toilet and no singing at the top of his lungs while the other children are trying to take their nap.

Good luck to all the new Kindy parents out there.  Next year is going to be a much bigger deal isn't it?!