School Days

 The dynamics of school days have changed. Mei Mei started Primary 1 this year and goes to the same school as her brother. I used to walk my son to school and later drop Mei Mei at the kindie on my way into work. All in all it would take about 1 1/2 hours between getting them up and ready and giving Mei Mei a hug before she goes into her classroom. School day mornings were intense, to say the least! But it's great to spend that one-to-one time with them on the way to school. They have questions sometimes or something funny to say.  If I am lucky, they may even tell me what happened at school the day before. 

This year, it takes about 50 minutes from the time they wake up to me getting home after dropping them in school. Both of them are far more independent in getting themselves ready, partly because they pace each other in every task. Mei Mei has more to do - she has more pieces to her school uniform and I have to help tie her hair into a ponytail. They don't like to eat anything that early in the morning so I give them a glass of milk instead. While they brush their teeth, I get their water-bottles and recess food ready. It is a buzz of activities, at about twice the speed this year.

Walking to school is different too. I can't hold both their hands and walk three in a row because we would slow down pedestrian traffic in both directions. Also I am often carrying something on one or both hands. I didn't want to hold one of the kids' hands and not the other. The only solution was for them to hold each other's hand while I walk in front of them to keep a look out for cars when they cross a road. But that means less opportunities for me to talk to them. Something has to give when you are born with only 2 hands. 

When we get to school, I give each of them a hug and kiss. I have to ask them to wait in case they run off before I am done. It felt a bit rushed in the last two weeks. When they head off to their respective class queues at the assemble area, they will say bye to each other. It's so cute to watch. And then they will both turn back a couple of times to wave to me. It is one of the most heartwarming part of my day. It is like witnessing fireworks shoot up gracefully into the sky before splitting into two dazzling bursts.