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Having half a dozen kids is no easy task. Each child is born different from each other. Each child has his own traits, qualities, characteristics that would make him different from the other. This is so true with my children.
During the first day of school of my first and second child, my husband and I decided that we should send them both to school. We anticipated a difficult scenario. I was tasked to send my eldest, Kennette, to his classroom. There, I asked him to sit in a vacant chair near the table of his teacher. Everyone flashed a smile at him. He smiled back shyly. Basically, Kennette is a shy boy. I saw other parents as well inside that classroom. We were all busy talking with our respective kids. We were all trying to set the minds of the little ones that any moment, we parents will be asked to leave the classroom. We were all telling our kids that parents are not allowed to linger inside the classroom for this will disrupt the classroom activities. There were kids crying at the top of their lungs. Some hugged their mommies so tight. Others didn't care at all. My Kennette looked a bit anxious and uneasy already. He held my hand. I could feel his tension that he didn't want to be left alone with total strangers. The school bell rang and signaled us that it's time for us parents to leave the classrooms. I gave Kennette a quick embrace and assured him that everything is going to be alright and I will just be outside waiting for him until he finished his class. He didn't smile at me but instead he gave me a worried look. I could feel that he is about to cry any moment. I held his chin and told him that everyone has to go to school and he has to start that very day. The three hours of Kennette's first day of class finally ended. Kids from Kennette's classroom started going out. I saw my boy smiling already. I was so relieved. I asked him about his first day of school and he said great. He made new friends and he asked me if he has class tomorrow. As a mother, I was very proud that I was able to make my son see the beauty and importance of going to school. I know that he has overcome his fear of being left with total strangers.

Sending our children to school gives us, parents, different experiences. I could see other parents who have a hard time convincing their kids that there is now a different world out there that the child has to explore other than his own home. Parents especially mothers who are the constant companion of the little ones must do all the conditioning and convincing power over their little kids. As early as two years old, mothers must start introducing instructional and learning materials such as paper, pencil and colorful books that will make a child grow with enthusiasm. A child must also be prepared to a school scenario by telling him while he is still young that by the time he reaches the age of four, he will go to school. Parents must make an effort to explain what school is and why the child has to go to school. It will be very helpful also if parents start relating their own stories about their first day of school too. This way, the child will realize that it is not only him who will be sent to school because his own parents did go to school too.

Learn more about this author, Bernadette Santiago.
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