Its coming to the end of the summer holidays … which means school uniform shopping .. I’m not sure whether its just our secondary school, but we can only buy the school uniform from a designated shop, which is great, but it can also be a bit of a nightmare .. there are over 1,000 children at the secondary school, each one requiring a uniform that has to have specific requirements .. obviously school logo, but they also have to be a certain brand of trouser and/or skirt (which also must be a particular length)… its true that they look so smart that first day back at school … which is probably why the school photo also happens that day.
The shop in question is rather small and at this time of year its overflowing with stressed mums and stroppy almost teens and teens who know how to “teen their moods to the max”… then there is the overflowing shoe shop, the one that my mum used when I was a child, the one most mums use knowing their children’s feet will grow safely in them .. without the risk of those dreaded bunions! But saying that once its done .. its hopefully done for the year .. assuming they don’t lose any items of clothing (or shoes) and don’t grow!
This year all of my three will be going to the same secondary school, Harry in his first year, Archie starting his GCSE journey, and Phoebe in her final year when next spring she will be taking her GCSE’s (advice on how to help de-stress her most welcome), it also means they will have to the same inset days / school half terms, which is going to be great meaning no more “its not fair why do they have time off and not me…” scenarios.

After a lot of encouragement (begging) .. they “posed” for me!
It is also a time for Phoebe to start looking at Sixth Form colleges, does she stay at the Sixth Form at the school where she is currently and knows all the teachers, or does she go further afield having to travel by either bus or train each day, but gets the opportunity to meet new friends, I am lucky in that she knows what she would like to study and what she would like to do career wise so its really a matter of what they can offer.
I think that this will be an emotional day for me …. all three growing up so fast … blooming so beautifully in their own way, their passions beaming out of them, thinking about their futures, where they want to go, what they want to do with their lives … opportunities that are endless. Exciting times are heading their way, along with a lot of change, I know they will grab these moments as they come along and make the most of them.
I am one proud mama.
Niki xx
I know the back to school
All to Well, and organisation is key. How lucky are you they posed for your blog post. I think I would have to buy 10 ice cream cone first. Happy new school year ahead. I have one heading to sixth form and I am more terrified than she is. X
I hope all goes well with sixth form .. and that you’re ok too xxx