Rida goes to school

DATE: 14 February 2006
At 2 years and 4 months, Rida is a bubbly chatterbox exuberating rare intelligence and great social skills (like her papa, shyness is an alien feeling to her). To facilitate her intellectual growth, it is important that she meets and plays with more children of her age. And what could be better than a play school?
Farheen and I spent a week visiting play schools in and around our area and talking to various parents. As expected, we had myriad opinions and advises to confuse us. And confused we were. But, after a very careful analysis involving factors such as proximity to home, school times, teaching methodology, play facilities, teachers etc. we rounded on "Bricks, The School" at Kamalapuri Colony (Phase 3). Just about a mile or so from our home and scoring decently on all of our attributes, we finally admitted Rida today in it.
She was very excited about school in the morning. "I am going to school. Yeah! Yeah!", she shouted while having her breakfast. We had taken her with us to some of the schools during our visits and she saw children play, and was now looking forward to it. Unfortunately, once inside the school, she had the company of a couple of children who were crying at the peek of their voice today. Naturally, my little darling got a little disturbed and decided to join the chorus. At this point, comforted by the staff, I left her and headed to office. It was 10 in the morning. Poor thing, she cried so much that she vomitted in the class room :-(. But I am told, after that vomit, she was great. The teacher tells me that she recited rhymes, pointed to colours, played in all the glory of a two year old and was well on her way to her chatter-box style when I went back to pick her up. It was half an hour past noon. One look at me and she went "Papa...waaaaa...waaaa...I want to go home. Lets go home to mama....waaaa". A quick chat with the teacher and off we were to home.
It pained a little to see her visibly shaken from being away from us for two and half hours, among so many new faces and wailing children. She came home, hugged mama, played with Rayan, had her lunch and was quickly asleep.
I hope and pray that her experiences be happier from tomorrow. Experienced souls tell me that second and third days are mostly worse than the first, but I am sure she will adjust soon.
My little darling is going to school. She is playing now, but in a few months (once in nursery) she will be introduced to studying, gradually. Thus will start a brand new chapter that will consume most of her life for the next 18 to 20 years, at least. As I write this, my eyes are a little, just a little, moist and I don't know whether from joy or sorrow. Joy, from knowing that Rida is growing up so well and sorrow from thoughts of various academic pressures her young mind will have to cope up with.
May God always be with her. I am not asking God to lessen her pressures or dilute her experiences but to make her strong. Strong enough to be able to master life- no matter in what form it presents itself to her. Please pray for her, and for Rayan and for all the kids in this world. Amen.
My little Rida is going to school. Yeah!