Does anyone remember what their first day at school was like?
I remember my first day quite well although it sounds unbelievable. There I was in the nursery section of Baldwins and I was happy because my cousin Sadaf was with me. Both of us were totally engrossed in playing in the sand and after a while I realised that I had no idea where my parents were. I looked up and saw my Abbu and Sadaf’s father smiling at us from outside the nursery gate. That’s all I remember. If I add anything more to it, it would probably be a fabrication of something my memory has added over the years.
Tomorrow is going to be Azhaan’s first day at school. It’s hard to believe somehow because I remember the day he was born as if it were yesterday! (Ayesha, I even remember you sending me the SMS when I told you about the planned operation, you said, congrats on becoming Mummy V2.0 or something!) Ok, that ought to prove that I have quite an elephantine memory. But its selective, like it is for most of us. Ok, I’m digressing.
Yes, so its Azhaan’s first day tomorrow at Podar Jumbo Kids. I’m excited and a little nervous because of late, he has started this new thing of throwing up when he’s crying. And since he’s really very attached to me, he’s not going to like it when I leave him there.
Of late, he has started using ‘Please’ a lot, not to actually be polite, but more in a pleading kind of way which I just cannot resist. I really hope he will not say something like, ‘Please no school’!
So, I had promised him chocolate cake for the first day of school and I finished baking it. Although I really don’t think he’s going to be very keen on opening that cute Pooh box I got for him to see what he has got.
Saboor’s first day is a little hazy because he just cried and cried and screamed and he refused to be taken upstairs.
I just hope Azhaan settles into school quickly!
So, all you guys out there….what was your first memory of school? I’m sure it will make for interesting reading!

6 comments
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June 3, 2009 at 2:14 pm
101dreams
Here’s wishing Azhaan a great first day in school!
June 3, 2009 at 2:17 pm
poupee97
Wish you luck. I’m sure he’ll settle down soon.
June 4, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Sowmya
Hey good luck to Az at school. I guess i need to wish you luck too
June 10, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Lubi :)
I clearly remember my first day of school…
and it was my dad who took me to my school. I remember climbing up those concrete stairs in wonderment and then suddenly when I saw all the kids being led inside a room, I realized this is “the school” my parents have been talkin’ to me abt!!

nooooo!!! Mom was all teary-eyed to see me after 8 long hrs of separation… and mom was cooing at me like a beautiful bird 
My mom got me dressed so slowly, with so much care and with such seriousness, like I was getting dressed to go on war
I refused to go inside the classroom and my teacher Mrs. Narayan, dressed in a blue binny silk saree, with a big red dot on her forehead, came out with a nervous smile and greeted my father & me. I looked away… perhaps in hopes of finding my mom instead… but within few seconds I got “carried” away literally inside my room.
I was crying, alrite… but I didn’t cry out loud, coz mom always said that was embarrassing… so I had ganga jamuna running down my cheeks while I saw my dad wave an encouraging smile my way… and then I turned and looked at my classmates.
They looked so darn weird. I had never seen white skinned kids or even black, for that matter.
Mrs. Narayan wanted to place me on my seat but I refused to budge. I was clinging onto her like she was my last life-line
You will not believe this, but that is how the rest of the day went.
I remained in her lap the whole time.
I remember we colored a lot, played with clay. Had lunch ‘n nap time, wrote some nos. on our books… all done within the safe confines of Mrs. Narayan’s warm lap!
I must have drained her so much that first day, that as soon as my mom came inside, she literally threw me into mom’s arms!!
And I heard her tell mom that I had refused to leave her side the entire day, and this is now how it wud happen again tomorrow, bcoz she is a teacher n needs to get her teaching work done…blah blah blah!!!
And was mom listening?
I waved goodbye to Mrs. Narayan and walked out to our car, holding mom’s hands proudly, showing off that I had survived my first day at… whadya call it? Haan! School
And then coming to my daughter Nazu’s first day at school…
God knows she has no supernatural powers, but I distinctly remember seeing her fly from our car door inside her classroom door in a flash!!
and I remained at the door for the longest time for a quick glimpse from her, which neither came… so dejected I left for home… and the hours wouldn’t pass by!! And finally at 3:30pm when I went to pick her up, she went ‘n hid somewhere in the class so she wouldn’t have to go to home boring home!!
Her teacher had to convince her that mom wud definitely bring her back there again tomorrow… and that is how Nazu graced us with her presence at home that day! Don’t ask me how I felt!!
she would kick her frustration out at everything in sight… until Monday morning wud arrive!
And she didn’t even want to hug or kiss me goodbye
And Lord forbid when the wknds wud come
Sigh…
I have survived all that
God bless Lubi!!
June 10, 2009 at 10:17 pm
andaleebwajid
Wow! First of Lubz…you have an amazing memory! But how old were you when you went to school? You were there for 8 hours??? This was in Bahrain?
Nazu’s first day sounds amazing! Your kid is one go-getter!
Btw, Azhaan, much to everyone’s surprise has adjusted to school in a snap! Just now he got hold of his little tiffin box, his water bottle and bag and refused to understand that he can’t go to school NOW…at ten pm! He goes off inside so bravely, it makes my heart turn a bit but I’m also really relieved!
June 13, 2009 at 1:58 am
Lubi :)
Yes I have amazing memory of yesteryears
and none of what happened a day before or even what just occurred a while ago
go figure!!
haa haaa!!
I know… Lubi’s ajeeb-o-ghareeb!!
Yes my entire schooling was in Bahrain. In Sacred Heart School. I was 4 and a half yrs old when I began school… I even remember my interview for the admission, very well
Subhan-Allah, only feels like yesterday… but in reality, it’s been 30 years, man!!
gosh, I feel OLD…