Playgroup at Montessori @ Graceland

Ah Ma suddenly had a severe pain in her left leg that wouldn't go away despite 2 visits to the GP and one to the A&E. The doctors suspected a slipped disc and gave her painkillers while she waited to see the specialist.

Prematurely, we had to start Karyn on the full day play group programme instead of the half day one that she was due to start on the 2nd week of January. I took leave from work to accompany her during the first 3 days so that she could slowly settle in.

The first day we were there, she went around the classroom taking the materials and playing with them, occasionally handing them out to the other children. She couldn't sit still for more than a minute and getting her to eat her meals were challenging.

Outdoor play time

She cried and struggled during shower time and I had to stay by her side as the Auntie showered her quickly while trying to soothe her with her soft, gentle voice. But she still cried throughout while getting dressed.

On the 2nd day, I figured I should try to slowly make myself scarce, just to see if she would be ok on her own. She was quick to discover my absence and started bawling again. It was heartbreaking to see and hear her cry so pitifully. So I appeared again, much to the exasperation of Teacher Jane who was carrying her. "It's like that, it's normal. She'll calm down in a while, you shouldn't have appeared so quickly." I had to learn to let go. I stayed with her pretty much that day, accompanying her to the shower, got her dressed and so on, all the way till evening.

On the 3rd day, I disappeared mid-way through breakfast. For a long time. Went back to check on her during her nap time and she was sleeping. Teacher Ang said she did cry on and off. But it was ok. She managed to calm down after the teachers carried her.

The "early birds" in school

For 3 weeks after that, Karyn would cry every morning when I leave her at the school. I think she has a love-hate relationship with school. She loves to play with the "Gor Gor" and "Jie Jie" but she hates to be left there on her own. Every morning even before she reaches school, she would keep saying "Gor Gor", "Jie Jie" in the car. And usually she's the first to arrive. Hence, she would cry and Teacher Yong Yong will carry, talk to and distract her while waiting for the rest of the children to arrive. Only then would she stop crying.

I guess it's a matter of time before she settles in. And before that, I just have to continue hardening my heart and shutting my ears as I hand her over to Teacher Yong Yong every morning and head off to work.