Call me a bad parent, but today I am celebrating the start of the new school year and the fact that I no longer have to entertain 6-year-old IJ all day every day, and I am sure I am not alone.
The summer holidays have been great of course. We had a lovely time in Oxford, here's IJ on the open top bus pretending she understands the commentry:
Our hotel was great (the car isn't ours, unfortunately!):
And there was plenty of time to play:
We enjoyed my bother's fabulous wedding in the Czech Republic and IJ survived her first journey on a plane, but there was no break for me. As a single parent there is no-one else to share the workload so there is rarely any time to relax, especially on holiday.
IJ has grown up alot over the last six weeks and we are closer than ever before. Having said that, I'll openly admit that I need a break.
So it was with a huge sense of relief that I handed her over (quite literally) to her class teacher this morning. There were a few pupils who, like IJ, didn't really want to be queueing in the school playground this morning, but far more parents who seemed perfectly happy to be there.
And I have to admit, I was one of them.
Today teachers are the best people on the planet, I adore them all, their salaries should be doubled. Tripled in fact. They should all be given 'company' cars, their own personal yacht, a five bedroom house, a Caribbean island and an unlimited supply of the finest Champagne. Today they are brilliant.
