Sunay's first day to school by van

This post was written on 1st July. Managed to publish it today.

Today is the day from which Sunay starts going to school by his school van. Although he is going to school since 2 weeks now (he is in Playgroup), so far, it was his “settling period” where he went to school accompanied by an adult from home. Vardan and I accompanied him for 2 days and then, it was his faithful maid Ruchita (uchi didi to Sunay) who would ferry him to school and back everyday.
Since today was his first day by van, we were excited about it and so was he. We made quite a ceremony of the whole thing. Vardan and I both stayed back at home and decided to go to work late so that we could see him leave. We clicked pictures and were at the apartment gate 10 minutes before time.
When his van came, there were 3-4 kids already in it. 1 kid had tear- stained cheeks. The van attendant settled Sunay in his van. Sunay then asked Ruchita to come sit in the van with him and she told him” ab mein tere saath nahi aaongi” . Sunay’s face fell and I think he would have cried if we would have lingered around longer. Thankfully, the van started and off he went.
All three of us – Vardan, Ruchi and I- had silent tears as we watched Sunay go away. On my way to school, I reflected on how we felt and I realised that this is his first foray in the outside world without his parents or caregivers by his side. There will be so many more times that he will go on his own- to school, to college, to university, to camps and Vardan and I will be left wondering when did our “shonka boy” grow up so fast!!! I keep telling Radhika that I will be one miserable mom when this happens. But I now know that I will be ok. After all, Kahlil Gibran has said “your children are not your children.. they are life’s longing for itself..”

Aah! Parenting is not an easy thing after all!!!