The school year is almost over (hallelujah!). But when it's goodbye to school forever, it's a big deal for parents. Kerri Elstub holds back the tears as she looks back on 13 years of homework, playgrounds and friends for life.
I remember the first day you started school.
Your father and I took the morning off work to walk you up the road and through the gates.
Your kindy teacher took you by the hand and into a whole new world. I was thrilled that he was at a local public school with children of friends that I went to school with.
I've still got the giant fish you coloured in on that day. I still remember how excited you were when you showed it to us and told us about your first day.
So many firsts, my dear child.
Your first school friend, who is still one of your best mates all these years later. Your first play date up the local park. And me, making new grown up friends who will understand how it feels right now as we watch you graduate.
I remember your first school camp. The right of passage of every child as they take their sleeping bag and pillow and head off to Bathurst. We smuggled in lollies, despite the ban and I'm sure you stayed up talking all night. I hope you did.
Your first school speech, school project and school dance, where of course, you didn't dance or talk to girls. The sex education program, where, if I'm honest, the parents laughed with awkwardness more than our kids did.
Going into Year 6 seemed like such a huge deal at the time. You were finally the "big kids". But not for long.
High school loomed large for all of us. Surely you were too young to be with all those teenagers? The new shorts, the collared shirt, the giant backpack. Everything seemed so big! And what if you got your "head flushed" like all those wild rumours we'd heard.
Now, a small fish in an even bigger pond, your world was rapidly expanding. Different classrooms, different teachers. Tuesday A and Tuesday B. But still there were so many firsts. Your first calculator, first bus pass, first big party and probably a whole bunch of first I don't want to know about!
Then I blink, and suddenly you're a senior. You're choosing subjects, some I've never even heard of. You show me your maths homework and we both laugh because there's no way I can even read the question, let alone answer it.
We buy your first suit for the year 10 formal and you endure my never-ending photo requests. And forget about social media. You're on it now. I need to ask permission before I can post a single frame.
Then COVID hits and everything is chaos. This is not how your final year of school was supposed to be. It was supposed to be classrooms, 18th birthdays and schoolyard friendships. Instead, it's classes on zoom, delayed exams and the trial HSC sat in your bedroom.
Your final exams soon followed. I think I was as nervous as you were when you sat your English paper.
And now all the feelings are back. The lump in the throat, the sting in my eyes as you're about to walk out in the school auditorium today and graduate. Thirteen years of school done and dusted.
To all the mums and dads, grandparents and carers, I feel you today. It's a day too big for words and with too many feelings.
Congratulations, my darling. And to every teacher from Kindy to Year 12 … thank you.
Source: honey.nine.com.au
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