Ethan's Primary 1 milestone
Yesterday, 3 January 2005, marked an important milestone for my family. It was Ethan's, our 6-year-old, first day in Primary School (imp on the right of the picture). From infant to toddler to kindergarten kid, Brenda and I have managed to experience him through the past 6 years, perhaps more than the average Singaporean parents have, because of the nature of our work.
Over the past 2 months, after he 'graduated' from kindergarten, we have been preparing him for the next stage of his development, by talking to him about what primary school life will be like, what he can look forward to, as well as sharing what we remember about him over the past 6 years. Being naturally extroverted, he has been excited about the whole affair. I remember when he got his school uniform at the beginning of November last year, he came back home and spent the entire day in it. Because Brenda had taught previously at the School, she had also begun teaching him the School Song, which he sang over the last 2 months with gusto.
Between Brenda and I, we had also been reminiscing about the milestones in his 6 years: when he first talked, tottered around the house, when he recovered from Bronchialitis as well as our family vacations together, his first day at nursery, even the day when he came home from nursery declaring that he did not want to be in diapers any more.
On the night of 2nd January, when I was tucking him to bed, I asked Ethan what he was feeling, so that we could talk about these feelings. Was he scared? Nervous? Excited? He told us that he wasn't afraid but a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Yesterday, I couldn't help but feel that lump in my throat rise out of fatherly pride, when he told me that he did not need my help in carrying his School bag. My baby boy has grown up!
Milestones are important because they mark out progress of our development, separating maturity from immaturity. We cannot ever go back to that earlier phase of life, because that was preparation for the present, just as the present is preparation for the future. I guess whenever we approach a new phase, after we pass a milestone on our journey in life, we would feel a mixture of nerves and excitement, pretty much like Ethan. As I told him, these are natural feelings to have and that there are many good things that he can look forward to in his new School: new friends, friendly teachers and bigger play area than his Kindergarten.
Milestones are also important because they signify change. I guess Ethan and most of us feel nervous at milestones because change rocks our world. For instance, Ethan was sad that he could not watch his favourite TV series 'CSI', as it was way past his new bedtime. Milestones are thus significant because they bring disruption to the patterns of stability in his life. It brings to our realisation that things are not going to be as predictable as they used to be. It jolts us to being on our toes again. Milestones and the feelings we experience, remind us that we are alive.
Finally, milestones also bring a focus on what remains fundamentally important to us. Ethan recognises that his parents are important to him, through this transition. He also recognises that friendship is important as he declared to us abruptly some time ago, "When someone holds your hand, you will feel better."
Brenda and I hope and pray that for Ethan, his first 6 years with us have given him the foundation to be a steadfast friend, a resilient child, and the courage to stand up for what is right and to admit when he is wrong. Certainly, his milestone is also one for his parents, as we begin to adjust to the fact that as we prepare him for independence, we need to share that mental and emotional space with the people he will encounter from now on. God Bless you, Ethan!
Over the past 2 months, after he 'graduated' from kindergarten, we have been preparing him for the next stage of his development, by talking to him about what primary school life will be like, what he can look forward to, as well as sharing what we remember about him over the past 6 years. Being naturally extroverted, he has been excited about the whole affair. I remember when he got his school uniform at the beginning of November last year, he came back home and spent the entire day in it. Because Brenda had taught previously at the School, she had also begun teaching him the School Song, which he sang over the last 2 months with gusto.
Between Brenda and I, we had also been reminiscing about the milestones in his 6 years: when he first talked, tottered around the house, when he recovered from Bronchialitis as well as our family vacations together, his first day at nursery, even the day when he came home from nursery declaring that he did not want to be in diapers any more.
On the night of 2nd January, when I was tucking him to bed, I asked Ethan what he was feeling, so that we could talk about these feelings. Was he scared? Nervous? Excited? He told us that he wasn't afraid but a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Yesterday, I couldn't help but feel that lump in my throat rise out of fatherly pride, when he told me that he did not need my help in carrying his School bag. My baby boy has grown up!
Milestones are important because they mark out progress of our development, separating maturity from immaturity. We cannot ever go back to that earlier phase of life, because that was preparation for the present, just as the present is preparation for the future. I guess whenever we approach a new phase, after we pass a milestone on our journey in life, we would feel a mixture of nerves and excitement, pretty much like Ethan. As I told him, these are natural feelings to have and that there are many good things that he can look forward to in his new School: new friends, friendly teachers and bigger play area than his Kindergarten.
Milestones are also important because they signify change. I guess Ethan and most of us feel nervous at milestones because change rocks our world. For instance, Ethan was sad that he could not watch his favourite TV series 'CSI', as it was way past his new bedtime. Milestones are thus significant because they bring disruption to the patterns of stability in his life. It brings to our realisation that things are not going to be as predictable as they used to be. It jolts us to being on our toes again. Milestones and the feelings we experience, remind us that we are alive.
Finally, milestones also bring a focus on what remains fundamentally important to us. Ethan recognises that his parents are important to him, through this transition. He also recognises that friendship is important as he declared to us abruptly some time ago, "When someone holds your hand, you will feel better."
Brenda and I hope and pray that for Ethan, his first 6 years with us have given him the foundation to be a steadfast friend, a resilient child, and the courage to stand up for what is right and to admit when he is wrong. Certainly, his milestone is also one for his parents, as we begin to adjust to the fact that as we prepare him for independence, we need to share that mental and emotional space with the people he will encounter from now on. God Bless you, Ethan!
posted by Trailblazer Trainers @ 1:24 am
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