September 2006

As this is the start of a new school year, today was the day that we decided to re-open our mother and Toddlers groups.
We were all really unsure of how many children would attend but this by no means affected our enthusiasm in planning the session. Even though it has been the school holidays, and I have honestly enjoyed them, I have really missed all of the little ones who attend the group.
The majority of the older ones who have been attending the M and T sessions, were starting their half day nursery at some point this week (some children are on a staggered intake). At least this means they, hopefully, will still be attending M and T, so we won't be losing them all just yet-and we do have their siblings, both born and unborn, to follow in their footsteps!!

Only a handful ended up attending, so it proved quite a relaxing start for us all. The main topic of conversation was obviously based around new schools and everything associated with school
  • uniforms-cost, availability, likes, dislikes, 'cuteness' etc
  • dinners-cost, variety and are they healthy?
  • new routines and authority figures
Being a parent myself, who had very recently been through this, I could be sympathetic but also give some information. Just being able to sit with these parents discussing our collective children, and being able to be a 'font of knowledge', has definitely made me realise just how far I have come, since the beginning of the Apprenticeship.
The conversation flowed freely and my opinion was often sought, and I gave both professional and personal advice.