The second year of primary school (WHY did no-one tell me?)

I feel about the second year of primary school as I did about the second day of primary school – why did no-one tell me this would happen?

I mean sure, logically, I knew it would happen, obviously, I know, but…

You know.

It feels like everything’s geared up for Reception – the four years before it, the school application process and settling in, getting in to it, getting to know everything. And then it goes so quickly and before you know it, the holidays stretch out luxuriously ahead of you.

And then? You have to go back to do it all over again.

But this time in Year 1, which seems like actual school school, no playing (not literally – I think they still spend 90% of the time faffing about with paint and cereal boxes).

And it will keep happening. Although much in the same way parents of newborns look in horror at toddlers having epic tantrums in the belief that your tiny, innocent newborn won’t ever be *that* big* or do things *like that*, I view parents with older children who are starting juniors or secondary school in a kind of ‘thank goodness that’s not me!’ way. But we’re just a couple of steps away from that step on the ongoing school conveyor belt.

While at some points on the holiday I have felt like I’m 80% referee, 10% caffeine and 10% ‘is it bedtime yet?’ It’s just been lovely to all be together, with not much to do unless we want to. So going back feels kind of emotional for lots of reasons (is it this emotional every year? Why did no-one tell me…?)

The main thing is E is incredibly excited about going back, which is great.

But, meh, time, you cruel and complicated bedfellow.

More school posts…everything I’ve learned from the first term at primary, 32 things you’ll obsess about in the first year of school and Spy Kids – the secrets of the school day