Job Done

Out like a lioness. Primary School is in the bag, it's done, it's dusted (or whiteboarded).

Meltdown for breakfast, aimed squarely at mum and dad, but the thaw set in when we turned onto school road and she saw friendly faces. I saw her from afar at the school concert. It was the same old shouty metaphors and life is going to be terrible and very hard when it came to Minister McShouty Pants McNabsty's tuppence worth, but it was much more refreshed and positive and real life message when it came to the new Head Teacher's word of thanks (the whole village has a platonic blush crush going on for Mr Rooke, he's the new headie in the hoodie).

After, she sign languaged me to come back later with the leaving presents for her friends (and of course Mr Rooke) she had forgotten to bring. No sooner than the scout hut was decorated and lunch downed, school was out. It was conga time, scrawl on each other's polo shirt time, selfie with the headie time, and just try to keep it together and not cry in front of your friends time. She surpassed herself with some heartfelt notes she'd written for pals, mostly who were moving to other schools, notes I knew nothing about. Good kid. Nice work.

Then it was about some deliberate lingering, a reluctant departure after some happy moments with mums and friends, and a quick bye to the After School Club but without Sian, Sue and Emma, there isn't so much of a connection for us there any more. And finally home, to have her mum straighten the curls, Beyoncé the curls, fail to Beyoncé the curls, then re-straighten the curls. New dress on. New converse on. Ready to see her friends again for the leavers disco.

By all accounts she had a good time, and then she suddenly signalled me it was time to go, she was struggling to keep it together, she was suddenly feeling a wee bit low, a wee bit lonely. So off home. Eager to contact a long lost pal over the water. Think she's asleep now. Probably very tired. Was up and dressed before any of us today, first time in years.

Primary school is done. It's dusted. But they will remember the quote, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened".