Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Last Tuesday was Vai’s second day of school.

Just before he put on his uniform that morning, he told me how he didn’t want to go.

As we walked to school, he told me how he’s tired and wanted to sleep.

And, as we walked into the school’s waiting area (where the kids all sit on the floor in rows according to their respective classes), he clung onto my legs tightly, desperately pleading and telling me how he’s tired (in other words, ‘Please get me out of here!’)

The idea of being away from his family must’ve been quite a terrifying experience for him.

[For the past few days I’ve been giving him hugs and reminding him how we love him, how Anya’s class will soon be just two rooms away, how I’ll come and pick him up afterwards every day, etc]

As he was still trying to convince me to take him out of the room, the school principal (she knows who Vai is since some 2 years ago when we both sent Anya to school every day) saw us. And she got down to his level, told him how everything is going to be okay, and pulled him away from me.

Oh my. Vai of course, with his arms outstretched, cried a desperate cry and begged me to stay and be with him.

It’s such a heart-breaking moment for both of us, but I know if I didn’t leave, it’d be worse for everyone.

And so I went to him (who’s been trying to free himself and run to me), smiled and gave him a reassuring pat, and I told him how I love him and I’d pick him up after school. And I left.

He cried for a good 30 seconds or so, then he sobbed. And within a minute or two after that, he held onto his teacher’s hand and walked to his classroom. Now that’s not too bad, I thought.

I took a peek and saw how he quietly placed his bag at the back of his chair, sat down and waited for everyone else to settle down.

He’d be fine, I told myself.

And I was right.

He was all good and happy that day, even when he played some ball games near the playground and saw me sitting on a nearby bench.

And that afternoon, as the three of us headed back home (and as I listened to him singing the songs he learned from school), I thought to myself, ‘Oh my, now it’s MY turn to get used to idea of NOT having my TWO kids around as much as before!’

…

I think I’m the one who’ll be sobbing soon.