The School Opens

Can you guess the day on which Anya's school started? It was 5th June- World Environment Day. I was so delighted. Green beginnings?

There was a lot of excitement on first day of school as little ones turned up in their new uniforms and gear. The school was only for an hour for the first couple of days. After leaving the little ones with teachers, we parents waited outside and befriended each other. Anya's friend had accompanied her so she happily went inside. When they came out after an hour, they were quite excited to have received a toffee and a sticker.

For a week after that, the school functioned for only a couple of hours. We used to take the school bus in mornings and come back by auto. After dropping the kids, a bunch of Moms used to hang out in a closeby garden and it had become a nice two hour interaction session. Though mornings were a madness, I used to look forward to these two hours of socialisation.  Then came the book collection day. We all got busy in covering and labelling the books, drawing lines and margins in copies. The almanac was filled and handed over, bus routes finalised, phone numbers exchanged. It was a busy week.

Now, regular school hours are in place and Anya has started commuting both ways by bus. She has been going happily till now. Every day, she comes back and regales us with her new learnings and experiences. Her observations invariably start with 'B(P)ata hai....' '(Do you know?)'. Recital of a rhyme, chanting of a mantra, sharing of an anecdote - all this delights me and my husband no end. To add to her charming ways, she now has a new thread of questions for us. She asks "Jab aap chhote the to aap kaunse color ka bag le jaate the?" "(When you were little, what was the color of your bag?" The same is repeated for snack box, water bottle, mode of transportation, contents of snack box....This series is asked once to Mamma and then to Papa. It does transport us back to our own school days.

My darling daughter, as you embark on this journey of fun and learning, I wish you a very happy, fun-filled and stress-free schooling. May the process of learning always be enjoyable.

Back-to-school supplies

After an enjoyable summer break, it's already time for schools to reopen. When the summer vacations started, I was a little apprehensive of keeping Anya engaged. But it turned out to be ok. I didn't enrol her in any summer camp, yet she managed to stay entertained by visiting friends' places and inviting them over, by going to a beach vacation, by playing Mom to her dolls (and even me) and taking them for a vacation, painting and coloring and listening to lots and lots of stories.

Now that it's time to go back to school, we have to start collecting supplies. Anya would be joining NPS-K and we are very excited about her new school. We have already bought her uniform and shoes. Now it's time to take stock of other necessities.

1.Steel snack box- Though she already has a couple of lunch boxes, I am looking for a steel one. I am concerned about packing hot snacks in plastic boxes. So while it's ok to pack a cold sandwich, fruits, nuts or biscuits in a plastic one, I need a steel one for dosa, poha or paratha. I think I will go for a Milton SS casserole style box I saw at a friend's place.

2. Steel water bottle - Last year, I used to give a BPA-free Nalgene or Thermos bottle to her but sometimes she couldn't put on the cap properly. This would leave spillage in her bag. To avoid this, plus to make a switch from plastic to steel, I would like to buy a new steel bottle. I searched a few shops here but either the bottle was too big or the brand unknown. Then I spotted this Thermos Funtainer with her fellow bus mates. It is the perfect size and doesn't leak. Those kids have been using it for an year now. I have to wait till someone gets it from the US because it is very expensive in India.

3.School bag- Planning to reuse the ones from last year till I gauge the full requirement. 

PS: We got a very good deal at 70% discount sale at Mom & Me. maybe, buying after the rush was over, helped us get a good deal.