Starting Primary 1

I think there’s no milestone as defining of a child’s life here in Singapore as entering Primary 1. (Other than taking the PSLE, of course, but that’s a whole different ballgame that I’d rather not think about at the moment!) 

But yes, Primary 1. That milestone where your child exits the fun times of pre-school and enters THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. That next step into the real world. Preparation for Primary 1 is a whole industry in itself so you can imagine what a big deal it is to most parents!

Well, just this Friday, our own little Noey took that step. This year, he enters Primary 1, attending the same school his Daddy did 30+ years ago. 

I didn’t expect to be, but I was a bundle of nerves in the week leading up to the day. Part of me was in denial. How could it be that my little baby is now old enough to join the ranks of primary-school-going kids?? There were also plenty of practical little worries. How was he going to find his way around such a huge school? Would he be able to cope with the long hours? And how was he going to buy food to eat on his own? Indeed, would he even eat if I’m not around to make him?

We bustled about getting him all the stuff he would need – a school bag, school shoes, a coin pouch, pencil case, his books – and with each item ticked off the list, we got closer to the big day.

On Friday morning, we all bounced out of bed bright and early at 6am, me to the sad realisation that this is the start of many more years of waking up at 6am for me! Noey was up quite quickly, and got ready on his own without prompting. He looked so smart in his uniform and like such a big boy, I could have wept. But I didn’t, distracted by the task of getting all of us to school on time. I asked him if he was ready. He nodded. His next question though was “When is 1.45pm?” (ie. dismissal time) Hah! 

He had always been rather nonchalant about starting primary school but I think as we walked through the school gates some uncertainty overtook him and he turned to ask me, “Is it going to be very boring?” Poor chappy. I gave him a hug and told him that no, I didn’t think he would find it boring. In fact I thought he would enjoy learning, because he usually does. But it was also up to him to make the most of it. That seemed to appease him.

I handed him over to his form teacher in the hall and thereafter was occupied getting to know the other parents of his classmates in a session organised by the very active Parent Support Group in his school. Thankfully Mei didn’t start school yet till Monday so I had the morning to spend in school. I appreciated the fact that the school had an open-door policy so we were able subsequently to take a peek in his classroom to see how he was getting on. We caught him yawning and daydreaming a bit but he was otherwise getting along fine.

We retired to the canteen to wait for recess and when it rolled round, we couldn’t spot him for a while till the husband hit on the bright idea of waiting near the drinks stall for him. And you know what? That was indeed where we eventualy caught sight of him, with his P5 buddy in tow! By the time I got to him he had already made his first purchase – juice. That wasn’t good because unlike him, I knew exactly how much money he had in pocket money and that juice purchase meant he was not going to be able to buy anything substantial with his remaining money. I trailed along behind him to see what he would do next, insisting that he pretend I wasn’t there even as he tried to make me carry all his stuff. I watched as he made his way to the Western stall and ordered himself a chicken burger, which he definitely didn’t have enough money to pay for. But he just dug all his money out of his coin pouch and gave it to the stall holder anyway, and stared blankly at her when she told him it wasn’t enough. Yeesh. Rather than put his buddy in a spot and hold up the long line behind him, I decided to step in and fork out the few cents more while making a mental note to ban him from the drinks stall and teach him some budgeting!

The rest of recess went uneventfully. I was pleased that he ate up the whole burger. That was a good start for my never-hungry son! And because recess is extra long during these first days, he was able to spend some time in the school library, which he was really happy about. 

I hung around to watch him a while more before heading home to my other child. When Mei and I arrived at dismissal time to pick him up, he looked bit scruffy with his shirt completely tucked out and hair slightly unkempt, but happy enough. Happier still, no doubt, that it was Friday and we had the weekend to decompress.

That was the first day, done and dusted. We all heaved a sigh of relief.

There are many more days ahead of him, and everyday I pray. That God will watch over him and grant him favour on this new journey, and that in time to come, he will find friends who will love and accept him for who he is. That he will find joy in learning and that his days in school will help mold him into a man after God’s heart.

Welcome to P1, buddy.