Sir, – Last Friday was my daughter’s last day in Lios na nÓg primary school in Rathmines in Dublin. Come September, she embarks on a whole new adventure in secondary school and the community, the friends, the routine of the last nine years will draw to a close. Both she and I have mixed emotions. She knows its time to spread her wings and launch herself into bigger school, and I know it is time for her to develop more independence and autonomy from me. But we will both mourn the end of our engagement with this wonderful little Gaelscoil.
We will also miss the ebb and flow of our daily rituals which we have enjoyed since she joined there aged four.
From our morning mini-dramas at being late yet again because something has gone absent without leave, to our debrief chats about her day in the car on the way home and our frequent afternoon indulgence of sweet treats with a cup of tea while watching a sneaky episode of Gilmore Girls, before homework, music lessons and sports training took over the evenings.
What I will also miss is my tribe of dogs and their owners who shared stories, wisdom and jokes as we pounded out the chinks of life and parenting on our morning walks around Belgrave Square.
Your top stories on Friday: Warnings issued as Storm Bert set to batter Ireland; the false election promises being made to under-40s
Johnny Watterson: Conor Niland’s The Racket is a seminal book in the sports genre
Ballsbridge mews formerly home to Irish musician for €1.95m
‘I could have gone to California. At this rate, I probably would have raised about half a billion dollars’
Secondary school will be a different scenario right from the off; for one her Dad will be dropping her off on his way to work and after the first day, I know my role as her daily escort will be dismissed. While this opens up a whole new level of freedom for me, I can’t help but be a little apprehensive and somewhat lonesome at the prospect.
Our primary school experience has been one of a close-knit circle of fairly like minded parents who shared similar values and a readiness to step into the breach at the ping of a text, covering pick-ups and drop-offs, forgotten instruments or football boots, lifts to and from after-school activities, with a snack or dinner thrown in for good measure
Our children rarely went without because there was always another parent there to save the day and treat each others children like one of their own. What will also come to an end on Friday is that familiar, almost familial shorthand that blossoms between parents who journey through primary school and parenthood together every day and every week for almost a decade at the school gate.
The journey continues in September but with a whole new group of unfamiliar parents who like my husband and I will be at arm’s length from our children as they must navigate their new school, new pals, and new routines on their own. That’s what growing up is all about.
If it takes a village to raise a child then it takes a caring community of parents and teachers to get a child through primary school and leave an indelible memory of what belonging feels like. – Yours, etc,
TONYIA DOWLING,
Dublin 8.