First Day of Kindergarten - All Ready for Big School!
This week I am joining the masses of parents across Figtree, Wollongong, The Illawarra and lets face it - Australia and New Zealand spamming the social media newsfeeds with proud, teary, nervous and exited images of their children off to experience their first day at big school.
My first born, my not so little baby, my beautiful son, is about to embark on the next big phase of his life along with hundreds of thousands of children across Australia. And he could not be more excited!
As a photographer, an emotional and creative person, there was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to be a blubbering mess at the front gate this morning. So I stocked up on waterproof mascara and tissues and to my complete surprise, I didn't need them!
I still cant believe that it actually, really does feel like just the other day that we brought him home from the Sutherland Hospital as a tiny newborn baby. And in chatting with my Mother’s Group Mum’s and friends who are also experiencing their first day at big school, we are all feeling the same.
He has spent the last 3 1/2 years at one of Wollongong’s Big Fat Smile Community Preschool's. He has made the sweetest little friends and developed into a strong, sincere and thoughtful boy with a hunger and aptitude for learning. His preschool and daycare educators have loved and nurtured him though the good times and the challenging times of toddlerhood, and now we are to excited to pass him on to another group of educators in an entirely new environment.
We have chosen a wonderful school for our family in Wollongong that we have complete confidence in. They have an excellent academic history and strong core values. Watching the smooth transition for all the Kindergarten children this morning was amazing, there were very few tears, the atmosphere brimming with excitement yet somehow was so calm.
During our orientation in late 2017, we were introduced to the beautiful Year 5(6) children who are to be the ‘big buddy’s' that will help them all settle in to Kindergarten. It was so wonderful to be greeted at Coles in Figtree Grove by our happy, beaming big buddy and his Mum this week! It was also lovely to see some familiar faces that I have photographed at Cobblers Hill Community Preschool in Figtree recently for their preschool and daycare photographs.
Our boy was ready to get out the door by 7:15am and just wanted to get on with his first day in Kindergarten. I know he is ready for school, he loves learning, he takes everything in, and I am doing my best stop ignore the “I’m not ready” voice in my head.
Like many Mum’s I have questioned myself; have I loved him enough, did I soak up the first 5 years of his life enough, did I teach him enough resilience to deal with learning/making friends/the school yard, will he get lost, will I be patient enough when he comes home exhausted, how on earth am I going to manage ensuring he has a healthy lunch box packed every day (time to get more organised). Yet here we are, this time has arrived and we are enjoying the ride.
As his parents, we are both filled with indescribable pride for our handsome little man, all dressed up in his school uniform. Today is Friday 2nd January 2018, and Friday is sports uniform day, but we just had to try on the standard uniform again, just because.
I am a children’s and family photographer by trade and telling a story through beautiful imagery is what makes my heart sing, so I don't want to miss a moment, I want every part of this day captured forever! But I also don't want to miss the real moment as it unfolds before me, so we packed our school bag last night, we have had a relaxing morning and enjoyed the anticipation and excitement together. I have not taken a thousand family photographs today, but enough to help us all remember this milestone.
So best of luck to all the Mum’s, Dad’s and Carer’s out there in Wollongong, The Sutherland Shire and The South Coast sending your baby’s off to primary school in 2018. May their year be filled with amazing growth, loads of fun, new friends and mind blowing learning experiences.
We’ve got this!
Bec x
Professional Photographer
Bump to Bounce Photography
0408 654 283
bumptobounce@outlook.com
www.bumptobouncephotography.com
Our beautiful little friend Dion, we have known since the boys were just 2 weeks old. We are so excited to be sharing in this next phase with Dion and his family! xx
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Newborn Baby and Family Photographer Wollongong; Servicing The Illawarra Region and suburbs such as Woonona, Thirroul, Bulli, Corrimal, West Wollongong, Unanderra, Flinders, Dapto, Mt Warrigal, Flinders and The South Coast Region.