A Bon Jovi song keeps popping in my head.
This is the story of my life
And I write it every day
I know it isn’t black and white
And it’s anything but grey
I know, no I’m not alright, but I’ll be ok
Cause anything and everything can happen
That’s the story of my life.
Life really is like a story. A book. There’s the childhood. High school. College. Weddings. Babies. All these chapters of our lives we go through. We close one door, open another, new characters are introduced. Some become permanent characters, some stay for a chapter or two then leave. Sometimes it feels like life is a choose your own adventure book, like we have complete control over what happens next, other times it’s clear our author already has everything planned out for us and we just have to keep reading to see how it ends.
Sometimes, when I’m reading books, I go straight to the last chapter to make sure I like the ending before I invest time in the whole book. I wish I could do that with life. I wish I could flick to the end of our “trying to conceive” chapter and see how it ends, so I can decide if it’s worth continuing the fight, or if we should just concede now.
I’ve been apprehensive, but am now getting excited, about the next chapter in our book – the sending-our-son-off-to-school chapter. There’s the first day, the uniform (complete with hat), the bag, the lunch, finding out which class he’s in and if any of his friends are in it too. I can’t wait to pick him up on his first day and hear all about it, hopefully getting more than a “good” or “nothing” in response to my questions. In thinking about and writing this blog post, it’s occurred to me that we, his parents, have very much been the authors of these formative chapters in his life. But sending him off to school is almost like handing him the book and asking him to start writing his story (with some guidance of course!) Maybe I’ve gotten a little carried away with this analogy.
There’s only 7 days of kindy left before he starts big school. He is so bright-eyed and excited about it, I can’t help but wonder how long that will last. Like that story about the little boy, who on the second day of school is told, “It’s time to get ready for school!” and he says, “But I just went yesterday!?” I hope school is everything his little heart thinks and hopes it will be. I know we’ll do everything in our power as his parents to help guide him through it so that these chapters of his life are filled with laughter, joy and great memories.
Linking up with the lovely Jess for IBOT.
Colours of Sunset 
I adore your analogy and works perfectly for the whole post…I hope the “trying to conceive chapter” is written quickly only to be followed by the “newborn” chapter. My eldest starts school this year too and the excitement is really building around the house – from both him and us!! Although my nerves and fears for him are building too. Maybe I need to just remember that now, he is writing his own chapters xx
To be honest, I’m not that fussed any more on what follows the “trying to conceive” chapter as long as it involves a “being at peace” chapter. My nerves and fears are building, too. I am wishing I could turn back the clock, big time!
You know I do that with some movies and TV series, I skip forward a bit to see if it works out how I want. But it doesn’t change the way things happen, just prepares me more for what is about to happen! Would be nice to be able to do that in life I suppose, but then again I’m a total surprise junky so I would probably find life rather boring then.
Just 2 more days left of Kindy for Moo, next week we’ve got two boy-free days just her and I’m so excited. I’m shit scared about school but I’m sure our babies will be superstars, especially if their current enthusiasm levels are anything to go by! xx
ha ha! Never done it with movies/tv shows, though I do beg people to tell me how things end before I watch, so I guess that’s the same thing as actually watching the end before the beginning! I hate surprises, but I guess I can see how it could be bad to see how things go. One of the perks of “life”, letting it play out.
Love the analogy to book chapters – fabulous. Good luck with the school transition – I am sure it will be a wonderful chapter for your family
Thanks Deb. I’m sure it will be wonderful, and have it’s challenges, as all the previous chapters have done. Have one very excited little boy, anyway!
I’m nervous for you – I’m sure he’ll take to it with an ease that will surprise you, just as I’m sure you’ll be more nervous than he could ever be on the day. Good luck x
I think you are right! I’m going to have to work very hard to hide my nerves/anxieties on the day, and I think you’re also right that he will ease into it and surprise me!
I’m glad in a way that I can’t see how my story ends – I actually like the surprise factor. Good luck with the start of school. I know I was a bundle of nerves when my eldest two started and am looking forward to (hopefully) having a more relaxed start this year as they are both returning to the same school with all their friends. In theory, it should all go well…*fingers and toes and everything else crossed*
Everything crossed that it goes smoothly for you too Kirsty. I feel like it wasn’t that long ago that I was in school, now I’m a school mum?! Makes my mind swirl. It’s so hard to let go, and to get over that whole wanting to be there by their sides to protect them.
Great post Aroha such wise words you write here. I am sure school is going to be a fantastic experience for you all. I love the way you term it as Nicklas getting the chance to write some of his own story with guidance. Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely
I feel like it is such a grown up step to start school. Obviously I know he’s still a little boy, and will need me for a long time still, but it’s that first big step into the “big world” in my eyes. Just want to protect him for a little bit longer, but it’s (to an extent) out of my hands.
So beautifully written, Aroha. There have been some chapters in my book that I wish I had known the end but then again, they wouldn’t have all lead to the chapter I’m living now and I am loving this one a lot!
Wishing you much luck and success for Nicklas. I look forward to hearing how it all goes. Big hugs x
You’re so right Grace! All the choices we make, based on not knowing how things will turn out, have lead us here. Who knows how badly we’d have stuffed it all up if we had thought we “knew” the answers! 😉 I’m nervous about this chapter, but hopefully once I’m into it I’ll settle down! 🙂
I love that you are giving him a book to start writing his chapters – brings tears 🙂 enjoy this special time and soak him up as he explores his new environment and he learns more about the world and himself xxxxx
He is going to learn SO much, isn’t he?! Maybe I will learn something along the way too – like how to let go a little bit! Thanks Chantel!
I wish your son Good luck with school! I can imagine it is very terrifying and exciting at the same time for a parent to send their child to school for the first time…
As for looking at the last page of the book, I totally understand the feeling… Sometimes, I wish I can flick the pages to the middle of the book at least and see if I ended up having children. Then, I think of this French song and the Lyrics: Go on and walk in your life path because maybe the real pleasure of life is not knowing how your story will end. Something to think about…
Thanks Rita! I know deep down it is best to not know, but every now and then my heart wonders and wishes for that crystal ball!
I am at that point where I feel totally out of control of my life, like I’m constantly handing over the control of every aspect of life to someone else. Good luck with your son’s first day of school! Enjoy it for what it is; a new chapter in both of your lives.
Thanks Chrissie! Will try to enjoy it! As long as he does, then I will too. Maybe time to take back authorship of your book and starting writing it for yourself? Be kind to you x
What an amazing new chapter! I am sending my little girl to a new creche this year… school… a whole other experience. Sometimes it is nice not knowing the ending… leaves an element of surprise, unknown and adventure. Big hugs … p.s. stopping by from IBOTxx
Thanks Tahlia! Hope your little girl thrives at her new creche, too!
I’m sorry, you had me at Bon Jovi. The rest of the post is lost on me, for I’m now totally distracted. Not only is Jon Bon Jovi a very talented and highly skilled man, he’s gorgeous. I sing their songs to my babygirl to put her to sleep 🙂
Sorry, you’d have to get through my youngest sister to get your paws on Bon Jovi (and probably several million other women!) 🙂
Handing him the book to write his own pages is such a beautiful way to look at it. Yes he will but he’ll still need just as much guidance from his loving Mum and Dad, if not more as he is opened to more of the world out there. Bubba is off to school too waaahhh it’s come up so quickly!
yep, we will be very close by, monitoring what he is writing in that book of his! aww, lots of us have kids starting school this year it seems like. Will be relying on those of you who have gone through it with older kids to help me out! 🙂
Oh, it’s such a big and life changing event for a 5 year old! My little girl is starting school this year too. Good luck!! 🙂
I’ve told him he has to go every day (he only goes 4 days to kindy). I said “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.” He goes “And Saturday?!” They just have no idea what they’re in for, do they?! But I am sure he will love it. He’s not the first kid to ever go to school (though it feels like it for me!)
Love your analogy too, and I’m glad Nick is going this year so we can all do our first year together. I’m really nervous but excited too. Tay is all excited so hopefully that lasts a few days:)
I’m told the excitedness will last about a week. I think after that we have 12 years 11 months of “I don’t want to go to school!” I hated school. Really hope Nick doesn’t take after me in that regard.
Oh, I loved reading this Aroha!
My youngest is about to start school too, and I just hope I’ve done everything I can to prepare and help him. He is such a shy little man…..I just hope it goes well.
Good luck to your little man. I hope school is everything he (and you) dreams of for him 🙂
xx
I think there’s going to be a lot of nervous mums all over the country come January 29th! I guess we have to trust that we have prepared them, that the teachers can handle any situation they’re thrown, and that we will be able to guide/comfort them through the process! phew! still think it easier to turn back time and make them babies again!
Love the analogy here. School really does start a whole new dynamic. My girls loved it, but Bailey has been different. He loves it whilst there, and needs it, but also wants to just stay home with me.
And on another note, I hope life is not one of those books; I always chose the ending where the character died!
ha ha Jess! Well I hope your life never becomes a choose-your-own-adventure! I would miss you! 😉 Gosh if Nick wants to just stay home with me I’m not sure how I’ll muster up the “mother figure” in me to tell him he can’t!
You’ve put it so beautifully, love the chapters! i’m almost positive that you’ll get more than “nothing” when you pick him up on his first day. Such an exciting time in a little life xx
Thanks Lisa. I don’t know, when I ask “What did you do at kindy today?” I get “ummm, I don’t know?” ha ha!