First day of school

So a rather emotional drop-off for their first day of school today. It was all quite happy and exciting when we left (Zoe's face to the contrary), and Toby and I realized that the girls weren't really nervous because they've never had a negative experience yet of school. So far their experiences have been nothing but positive and loving and supportive, so why should this be any different? (Let's hope... ). A few things I have already observed from the school yard: NO little French girl has short hair (even when Indie's teacher was told she was a girl, and was in fact looking directly at her, she kept saying, 'un garçon?'. 'Non, une fille.' 'Un garçon?'. 'NON, une fille' etc.); little French girls get very dressed up for school, and maybe Indie's shorts were contributing to the whole 'boy' problem; French schoolyards are quite rock'n'roll in terms of the physical interactions, and my girls are going to have to toughen up if they want to hold their own.
Still, Zoe went into her class without a backward glance, heading directly to the dolly corner ('can I have a kiss good-bye?', 'bye, mum' with a hand flap over her shoulder); Anna stoically joined hands with a teacher and walked in with her head bowed; Indra (trying hard to ignore another little girl who suddenly burst into tears and made a dash for the door) gave me a tight hug and a kiss and, clearly struggling to hold it together, resigned herself to her fate. I remember now that my biggest worry when committing to this adventure was how the girls would get on at school, trying to make friends in a different system, different language etc. so I don't know why I'm surprised that this was rather an anxious time. I'd clearly forgotten in our holiday mode.

 Walking to school.

Indra in the school yard (the little figure in yellow).

So it was hard to leave them. But Toby and I managed to console ourselves with a coffee in town. And I bought some nice cheese and bread on the way home to have for our lunch with some 'lightly dressed leaves'. Clearly we're going to survive.

 Kids? What kids?

I feel for them. Really I do.

More to come after we pick the kids up and get the reports.