On Self-Reliance

Who doesn't love self-reliance?

The kids I look after go to a Posh School. It's a very nice school. Everyone there is either on the staff or younger than 9, and it's a generally happy and enthusiastic sort of place.

It has once flaw, and that a minor one: there is nothing resembling a bus service to it, and parking is somewhat restricted. There is a nearby road to park in, but this is utter misery at 8.15 in the morning when it's minus 4 outside and there's snow on the ground.

So in the last couple of weeks the complaints have been coming constantly about the long trek (about 200 metres? Yeah.) to school.

'Fine' says I, 'if you want, I can leave you right at the gate. But' (to the little one) 'I cannot come into school with you. You must sort your coat and bags and snacks out by yourself. But I think you can do it.'

So on Tuesday we had a go at the 'drop-off zone', which reminds me somewhat of airports. And it worked rather well.

And on Wednesday we got to school a little too early, so had to sit in the car for a bit. We walked around to the gate and I got from the little one, 'I'm going to go and do my stuff myself'.

'Well okay then!' I said cheerily, 'see you after school!'

Mwahaha. It's getting so I'm hardly needed at all. Except as Taxi Driver and Worker Of The Oven And Occasionally The Television.

It amazed me how quickly she took to Doing Stuff Herself, because she loves people doing stuff with her and preferably paying her lots of attention. Her elder brother is fine with you paying him attention, but he's happier if you let him do whatever it is himself (I relate). It's rather sweet.

The Exegesis Fairy: encouraging independence in four year olds since...errr...a couple of months ago?

Last day of term today. Yippee!