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| I confess, I'm afraid I'm that mum after two holiday months ! |
Today, my daughter is back to school. I don't how it goes in other countries, but the first sign that holiday time is over is that we received at home the amazing list that specifies all the school things I have to buy for her. "Amazing" because there are about thirty different items, pencils, pens, felt-tip pens, colored pencils, notebooks in different sizes and colours,two pencil bags and it goes on and on for a whole page...
This year, she's going to be in what people call "la vraie école" or "chez les grands" which translate something like "the real school" or " with the big girls and guys".
It means that she's going to do her CP class (cours preparatoire), first year of primary school for the 6/7 years old, which is the class during which they are supposed to learn how to read and write perfectly, among other things.
This year, even though school starts at 8.30 and finishes at 4.30, she'll be at school from 7.45 to at least 5.15 because of my working hours, and we're "lucky" my job is right next her school ! The truth is I couldn't find anyone to look after her and drop her to school : many women are in this situation in France, depending of course on where you live and how much money you can spend on the whole thing. Not surprisingly, the more money you have, the easier you'll find a nanny. The persons I contacted either were simply not interested in the job because my child would spend too little time with them, AND going to her school was too much trouble for them ; or were presumably undocumented and did not want the job to be declared legally.
So, I am glad I chose to send her to a private school because they offer supervised before and after-school child-minding facility, for extra cost of course.
School hours depend on the school your child attends, but I think hers are typical:
8.25 the bell rings, children have to get in line in the school yard to go to their class.
8.30 the class begins
10.00 /10.20 Morning break
12.00 Noon break ( and school dinner in the self-service dining hall, which is a mess for the 6 years old)
13.30 Class again
15.00/15.20 Afternoon break.
16.30 The ring bells, kids go back home "mummy time"
Children in the primary school go to school four days a week: Wednesday is usually devoted to sports, dancing, arts, whatever your child is into.
I don't know any primary school with a lunch box concept, children may not bring their home made lunch at school. Either you pay for the dining hall service and supervision or you take your children at 12.00 and bring them back at 13.30.
Of course, there are pros and cons with both systems, but I got to pay almost 6€00 a meal, which most of the time does not meet my standards about food: regarding balance (viva the pasta/fries/rice! apparently these are veggies at school), quality (never had a proof, but I am highly suspicious) and quantity.
The 6€ meal probably explains the fact that now people at school talk about "school restaurant"....
On the contrary, most adult people I know ( those who work I mean) bring their lunch to the workplace with them. That's why bentos are so trendy at the moment! I even gave in buying two cute (but not ridiculously kawai) boxes for my back to work treat lol.
God, I hope I put everything the schoolteacher "ordered" in my baby's backpack and that she had a good day with the other kids ! I hope she's fine and that she'll be glad to go back to school tomorrow!
