September has always felt like a month of transition. This year, it carries an exceptional meaning for us. Lavinia has officially graduated from her childminder and has entered her Reception Year at school. It’s the end of one chapter, and another is beginning. The emotions have been flowing, to say the least!

The last days at Kay’s: bittersweet goodbyes

Kay has been such an important figure in Lavinia’s life, guiding her with love and care. We’re so grateful and lucky to have had her in our lives.

The past few weeks at daycare leading up to this milestone have been filled with visits to beautiful National Trust parks.

Mini-parties at Kay’s were part of a heartfelt farewell ritual. Children from Kay’s care and other childminders gathered as they prepared for their next big step: starting school.

Of course, there were some tears on Lavinia’s last day at Kay’s. It’s hard to say goodbye to a place and a person who has been such a big part of her daily routine, and we promised to keep in touch.

Kay gave us something so special to take home—an enormous folder full of Lavinia’s drawings and crafts she made over the years, which never made their way home before now.

As if that wasn’t enough, Kay also gifted us a beautiful book of photos documenting Lavinia’s growth throughout her time there. It was heartwarming to look back at those early days and see how much our little girl has grown.

Lavinia’s first day at Primary school

Then came the big day: Lavinia’s first day of school! I still can’t quite wrap my head around it. She looked absolutely adorable in her summer uniform, full of excitement (and maybe a few nerves).

Of course, she insisted that Miss Cow, her beloved copilot on challenging moments and milestones, join us on this significant day, which felt fitting for the occasion.

We prepared a special board with some key information about her first day. It includes things like her height, favourite things she likes (the first one was eating, we’re not surprised), and what she wants to be when she grows up. You can see how Kay has been important to her life: she wants to be a childminder!

With this board, we can look back each year and see how she grows and changes over time. We’re starting a small tradition, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves.

When we arrived at school, there were more emotions. She cried a little when we left her in the courtyard with all the other children, but that’s to be expected. It’s a significant, overwhelming change. Yet, she proudly told us later that she stopped crying almost immediately and had a lot of fun.

So far, her favourite things at school include playing, PE, and (no surprise here again) the food! Lavinia has always been a fan of trying new things, and apparently, the school lunches didn’t disappoint.

Navigating a new school system

For us, this new beginning also means learning to navigate a completely different school system. Coming from an Italian background, we’re getting accustomed to how things work here in the UK. It’s quite different, but we’re taking it step by step and figuring out how best to support Lavinia as she embarks on this new adventure.

We’re learning how to recognise what she’s learned each day, ask the right questions, and make the most of the experiences she shares with us when she comes home. We’re going to benefit from the reading challenge the school has in place: she brought home her first book to read, and I learned a new word, too!

All in all, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions, but mostly, we’re just incredibly proud. Watching Lavinia take these first steps into school life is a beautiful reminder of how much she has grown. It also shows how much more she has yet to grow.