So it’s official. Child number three has his place at the primary school. Not that it wasn’t expected; his two sisters already go to the school. But still, it’s nice to get it confirmed.

Whilst completing a myriad of administration forms today, I started to think about all the preparations that we need to make before September. The pressure is on now for my little one to make those final steps towards independence; can be put on his own shoes?, get himself dressed? Do up buttons and zips? Take himself to the toilet? Etc. etc.

I can say ‘yes’ to most of the above, but I have to admit that I have baby’d my baby and let him get away without doing things for himself for a lot longer than I did the girls. After all he’s the only little one left in the house and it’s been my job for so long to look after the little ones. It’s just what I’m used to.

Unlike the girls, though, he hasn’t expressed a need for independence like they did. He has been quite happy to let someone else do things for him. It is only recently that he has wanted to put his own shoes on and do up his coat. Maybe it’s a boy thing. Or is it third child syndrome? Who knows.

In any case time is ticking and between now and September I’ve got my work cut out. It’s a good thing though. It will keep me busy and stop me thinking about how all of my babies will soon be at school. At the moment I’m looking forward to it because it will free up a lot of my time to concentrate more on my work. But I know for a fact that when I see my son in his uniform for the first time I will be a wreck. It will be the end of an era; a day to look towards the future, whilst reflecting about where the last few years have gone. And I’m not good with things like that so I dont even want to think about it just yet.

For now I’m happy to focus on the pre primary school ‘training’ instead and fulfil my motherly duties to make sure that my youngest is ready to go out into the big wide world. I will try my best to marvel at how ‘grown up’ he is becoming and look positively on the fact that life is so much easier for us. Those baby days are now a thing of the past.