Next week is the end of Term 1 and what a full on couple of months it has been. I feel exhausted just thinking about it. Such a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me and my girl.

Although it’s been 8 weeks since Ava started Prep, I feel like I’m only just getting into the swing of it. So I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far.

1. The Tiredness
Oh woah! Lots of friends had told me how tired their kids were (when they started), but I had NO idea just how much it would affect Ava. She’s wrecked. And with every day comes a new challenge.

School is SO different to being at kinder/childcare, it literally is a whole new world. With new rules, new people, new routines – well everything is new. If I think about how hard it can be for us adults when we start a new job, it’s full on and can take weeks to settle in and learn the ropes.

So when it comes to the weekend, I’ve learned to slow it down a bit. Especially on Saturday mornings. The last couple of weeks, we’ve just hung about the house and stayed in our PJs until lunch time. Which is good for both of us.

2. The Lunch Box
I used to think ‘Come on, how hard can it be to sort a lunchbox?’. BUT, it is. Because Ava changes her mind every day as to what she likes and dislikes. One day she wants a vegemite roll, the next she looks at me like I’m completely insane for suggesting vegemite again.

This morning I asked her what fruit she’d like and she was adamant that she didn’t want apples or bananas! News to me as she was eating both last week. I could go on, (and on, and on), but I think the whole lunch box thing is a whole blog post in itself (watch this space!).

3. The new ‘Preptitude’
So I’ve heard this word around the school yard, and it couldn’t be more fitting. I’m so relieved I’m not the only one getting a lot of new found attitude. The hands on the hips, the cocking of the head, the talking back and the rolling of the eyes! Again, OH WOAH! What are they, 5 going on 12? It’s full on!

Ava is a pretty good kid, but lately she’s been very up and down and the ‘tude is coming out all over the place. Sometimes I just need to breathe and not react, as it doesn’t help when I do and end up just giving it right back to her. Super hard when your little person is staring up at you with total disdain, argh!

4. The dirty socks
Seriously – how can those little white socks get SO freakin’ dirty? What is that? She comes home and they are absolutely filthy. Nothing more to say on that really, just something I had no idea would be on my mind, let alone that I’d be writing about it.

5. The rookie mistakes
For the last two years, Fridays were our day off together (from work and kinder) and we had swimming lessons at 10.30am. We’d spend the morning chilling at home, having smoothies and easing into our day. Then we’d hit the pool and mostly hit a cafe for brunch and see where the day took us.

Gone are those days and now it’s rush, rush, rush to get to swimming by 4pm on Thursdays. BIG rookie error on my part for requesting the 4pm slot. What was I thinking? There’s no time for dawdling and we JUST make it every week.

Next term I’m gonna see if I can change to a later time slot, as it just stresses us both out. The poor kid has had a huge day at school and there’s me shoving her in the car and then shoving her bathers on. Don’t even talk to me about trying to get the earplugs, cap and goggles on too! Insert gritted teeth emoji here.

So there you have it, just a few things I learned in Term 1 of Prep. Do you have a new Preppie too? Got any tips for me? Or just want to share? We’d love to hear from you.

L xo