Harps, it’s my job to remember all the bits that you won’t growing up and today was a big one. You started School. FINALLY. After asking me over and over if it was Thursday yet, it was and the time was here. It was cold this morning, unseasonably for late January with an autumnal chill in the air. We were both up early, ready for the day ahead.
There were lunch boxes to pack, bags to line up, stuff to get ready and ready you did. You refused help from your Dad because you can do it by your self-es, you think we would have worked that out by now. I had to keep turning away from you cause the hot tears kept coming and pricking my eyes. Your big sister was excited for you, telling you this and that and how things work. There were calls to take from Grandma, photos to take and then we were off.
We stopped off to see your friends Ruby and Arkie who came to see you through the gate, and then you were in and off. Bags up, play time and then assembly without a second thought. You are ready for School my love, so ready.
As your Dad said to me this morning, we’ve done good him and I. Two girls big and ready to School. I said to him that it’s all ONLY ok because I can feel your little sister or brother kicking away, so I know we don’t have to let you all grow up just yet.
I can’t get the words out properly or see the letters to type through my tears sweet girl. I, we are so proud of you. The big, smart, funny, stubborn, sweet girl that you are. You have been my baby for so long now, and now it’s time to let you go. And that’s OK, we’re ready. I hope school is everything you want it to be. A place of fun and friendship of learning about the world. I hope you’re not too pissed off this afternoon when you realise that you still can’t read yet. It will come. Be brave, be happy, be patient and kind to yourself and others. Challenge yourself, and never stop being the beautiful sweet soul that you are. That School is lucky to have you Harper. We all are.
“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
And for all the other Mums and Dads out there with little ones starting today, here’s a tissue and a virtual back rub for you. You’ve done good, so good. Look at them go…!
Oh Beth! I have tears in my eyes imagining when it’s our turn. Well done Mama, big hugs xxxx
Thanks Mel 🙂
OK thanks for making me bawl on a sunny Thursday morning… and mine haven’t even gone back yet. Good luck Harper… knock em for six you little legend xx
Sozza x
Such beautiful words & how lovely of you & Rob to have made this such a special occasion for your gorgeous girl. I’m tearing up with you, so much emotion in this post!! School seems forever away when you are in the throes of the ‘two’ but somehow posts like this remind me how fast children grow up. How wonderfully excited Harper will be to tell you all about her first day as a big school girl. Now that’s going to be something amazing.
They grow up SO quickly!
Oh this made me cry! I made calls to enquire about putting my baby girl into daycare yesterday. Tears galore. And now again! I’m a crying fool!
Oh the old daycare…where it all begins. I remember it well x
…..and now I have tears! But mine are in Years 10 (WTF?? sure I was just in Year 10), Year 6 and Year 4. My little bloke is school captain this year, so I told him to rally his other school captain and head over to the kindy side to have a chat and make sure all the littlies feel comfortable (and their mums and dads too!) Goes way too fast… just STOP TIME now please!
Harper looks adorable….. hope she has the very bestest day – and you too – all by your self-es!
Thank you x
Ohhhh hot tears here too, what a beautiful post. My baby is Starting Grade 6 next Monday and I remember her first day as if it were yesterday. You have put into words EXACTLY how I felt. Man this job of being a mum is a roller coaster! Keep the tissues handy all day Beth x
They were needed! And again this morning…she was a bit wobbly.
Hi Beth, am sitting here with hot tears myself. Your girls are truly beautiful!
As a Mumma to a 24 year old son, who is now a Dad himself & a 19 year old
daughter – those proud tears come even more, not just for our amazing kids
but our oh so handsome, cute, clever, funny……..grandson. I could keep going
on and on he he!! We all LOVE him so much!! Wishing you & your husband all
the very best for today – Harper will run through your door so happily this afternoon.
Gaye XX (Yes, I am a young GG – Granny Gaye). He he
Thanks GG x
Lots of love Beth. Such a big day. xx
Thanks Amanda x
Why am I crying when Harps isn’t even my kid?!
The kid who was my baby for 10 years starts high school on Monday. It’s too soon & the right time all at once. This growing babies & then watching them step into new worlds is exciting & sad & scary & heart bursting isn’t it ?
It sure is! Exhausting business x
This made me cry, bringing back those days when our two boys went off to school. It’s been 30 years since the “baby” left for that first day of school.
So well written, Beth. I hope Harper gets to read it some day.
Thanks Cyndy…I hope she will too x
Such a special day for you and your family. My “little” boys are 29 and 25 and I will never forget their first day at school. I become emotional at this time every year when I see the “kindies” start their wonderful unknown adventure and think of all the amazing experiences which lay before them. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Thanks Sally 🙂
Oh Beth, sitting here reading your post made me smile and cry at the same time. For us school starts tomorrow, back to the routine.
Good luck today – enjoy the peace!
Thanks Beth, we saw our baby boy off to school for the first time this week and I was feeling all the feels too. Such a big time for them, and us as parents, sending them out into the big wide world. xx
Hope he is going alright. Harps was a bit wobbly this morning 🙁
Beautifully written Beth. I dropped my big girl off this morning and the hot tears are still welling, thanks for the back rub. We did do good, really good!
We did!
so beautiful. Such sweet words!
Thanks Rae 🙂
Oh Beth, this post takes me back, way back when my baby started school. Good on you Mumma on a job well done. May your little/big girl spread her wings and fly, and experience all the wonders of this world. xx
Thanks Beck 🙂
My baby starts tomorrow and I spent my whole shower this morning crying as this is our last day together. Willow is super excited and like you I have to keep walking out or turning my back as the tears start to flow. I think I will be an even bigger mess tomorrow morning. Thinking of you today Xx
Hope things went well Jackie!
That was beautiful almost like reading a memoir in the future…precious words x
Thanks Chrissy 🙂
I want to be Harper!!
Crying now… those words of love and affirmation, of pride and confidence.
Shit Beth, you haven’t just done good, you’re doing BRILLIANTLY.
Your girls are ready because you and Rob got them ready – you love them and believe in them and I reckon you even tell them that from time to time, when they aren’t fighting in the car.
I am almost 47 years old and I have no memories of these kinds of words being said to or about me as a kid.
Powerful, powerful stuff.
I want to look over Harper’s shoulder when she reads BabyMac in 20 years’ time. Archive this, now!!
Oh, you’ve really made my morning.
Thank you.
Totally agree, but you can see by harpers sweet face she knows she is totally loved and adored, she is a lucky girl! What confidence and self assurance for her, to help her get through this crazy world! All we need is love, la de da de da…
Puzactly!
Oh thank YOU Annette x
Oh flip, Beth. I’m crying like a baby over here! Beautiful, my love. What a special record for Harps. I hope she has an ace day today and many awesome school years ahead. x
She had a great day! This morning not so good, but we will take each day as it comes.
Tears at my desk, at work.
Beautifully Written. Beautiful shots and she will love looking back on this in years to come!
Our turn Monday with Miss 5. We’re ready but not ready! Well, she is but I’m totally not. Xx
Good luck on Monday!
Another beautiful post Beth… that I shouldn’t have read at work because I am now crying at my desk! I hope Harper has the most amazing first day! I bet you can’t wait to pick her up and hear all about it.
I was hanging to get her and she had a great day!
Hi Beth. My baby boy left this morning to his first day at a full time job as a barista. He was as nervous as he was when he first started school. I cried when he left as he seemed too young to be going off into the world as a working man. He is 18 soon and the last one left in the nest. Harper has so many great years of school ahead of her. I hope she enjoys the ride.
It never ends does it? Sheesh!
Awww, you made me tear up and I don’t even have school-aged kids yet! It’s ahead though and I can only imagine..
And it will be here before you know it!
I was looking forward to reading your post about Harper’s first day of school, and boy what a beauty it was Beth! Thank you. This will be me in 12 months time, and I am already dreading it. I know those hot tears will be coming every day next January until the big day finally comes. I hope Harper has the best day ever. Big love x
Thanks Alison 🙂
Beautiful Beth, just beautiful xx
Thanks Kate 🙂
This was me Tuesday. Such a big day. Sweet, sweet words Beth.
Hope all went well for you guys x
Awwh. Am sure it was a great day! Lucky second plus children have big brothers/sisters to watch over them. I was a mess 6 years ago when they final one went to school; now they virtually ignore the olds in the morning and get off to their schools by themselves. (2nd day running late for the 16 year old but he tell me the train made it just in time….). A whole, long, quiet day to yourself… for a while at least. Enjoy.
I have a few months of quiet ahead and then we start all over again!!
What beautiful words. I am crying like a little baby. My baby girl started grade 5 today, I still don’t know how she got to grade 5 so quickly. I made her let me tie her shoelaces this morning, because I was feeling so un-needed. Her big brother starts secondary school on Monday and I can’t even think about it yet, as I get too emotional. When did they grow up and stop needing me?
I hope Harper has a wonderful day!
I know Daisy will be in year 5 before we even blink our eyes…happens so quickly!
Long time follower first time commenter (love your recipes). What a beautiful post, you made me cry, oh the memories. I have 2 adult boys 22 and 28 and I remember tearing up when they went off to school and the empty house feeling when you come home after the youngest heads off to school. Wait until they leave home.
Thanks for reading and for commenting Catherine 🙂
I’m at work and had to stop reading and pretend to forage in my drawer cos the tears sprung up! Remember this so well with my 3, specially my last who finished year 12 last year. The time flies, Beth, keep building those precious memories and watching your girls fly
Sorry Joey!
Struggling to see the keys on the keyboard myself as I type this. I am so excited for all of you… for all of the babies starting school. My H is starting pre-school next week and I am nervous and excited for both of us. Reading this stirred up many emotions I am feeling about it and all the emotions I know will come when It’s our turn in 2 years time. Jx
Good luck with preschool Jess!
tissues here beth!
lovely memory moments for you and harper!
my great niece started on Tuesday! she was as happy as a lark!
and her birthday was yesterday!
she also is ready for the mountain!
gorgeous! … love m:)X
Thanks Merilyn 🙂
Beautifully written it made me tear up I remember when my own baby started school xx
Thanks Lisa x
It was just a moment ago that I was reading about her birth on her (that was the first blog post of yours that I read, that must be five or so years ago).
I hope she comes bounding home full of joy. You and Rob have indeed done good. xx
She was very happy in the door and then a bit wobbly this morning…:(
Ah Beth I’m late to the party but weeping along with everyone else and that was before the nod to my favourite, guaranteed to make me cry every time, Dr Seuss book. I hope Harper had a fabulous first day. Job well done.
Jacqueline x
Thank you – she did! Let’s hope she continues to…
Oh, this is perfection Beth. Such a roller coaster of emotions sending our little ones off into the world of school. I found it hard with the first born, I’ll be a mess when I send my last born! SLOW DOWN TIME!!!!
Awesome post.
Cx
Thanks Claire x
Yes, your Harper seems so happy and ready…my baby girl is starting Uni and I think it was yesterday that it was her first day of school in crisp school uniform, pudgy sweaty little hands and cheeky smile…
Time flies hey?
I’d like to read that to my new kindy kids next Monday Beth!! Such a good picture you paint…. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO READ ONE DAY!! And somehow we have to get them there! Along with all the other “stuff”… I’m exhausted already!! 😉
Oh good luck Anna! From Instagram looks like you have got it nailed!!
Sitting here reading this through a flood of tears. Such a HUGE day. Glad it all went well. I still cry on the first day of school and Sadie is in Year 2. They just grow up far too quickly.
They sure do 🙂
Oh this takes me back, my little bro came home from his first day of school (in 1986) sooooo pissed off that he couldn’t read yet. Let’s hope she can read soon uh xxx
🙁
Oh Beth, you really do have a (wonderful) way with words. This post should come with Kleenex! Hope Harps had a fab first day at school and that every day after that is as fabulous as the first. Just more fabulous-er xx
I hope so too…I fear it’s going to be a little tricky next week!
Yup, warm tears here too and a pang in my heart for years gone by. God I wish I blogged back when my kids were little to have that record. Just beautiful writing Beth. x
Thanks Jenni x