Spreading Wings....

Ruby is off on her residential weekend to Bude today....and the nerves have really started to kick in....mine, not hers....'we' have been anxious for the week long build up to today because it's Ruby's first time away from home over night without at least someone from her family....ever!

Sarah and I have been discussing how we think Ruby will cope with the unfamiliar surroundings and new experiences....how she will adapt to a different routine and make new friends....Ruby sometimes struggles with trying new things....

Ruby has described how all of her mates are super excited, how they have been packing their cases for weeks, buying new clothes and discussing all the things they will be getting up to....whereas she has not really deviated from her regular daily routine....not expressed any real excitement or concerns.

Last night though she was agitated, particularly as she was deciding which clothes to take with her and we packed her case. Ruby said she had tummy ache and couldn't eat, we explained that it was just butterflies because she was looking forward to the adventure but she just put it down to needing the toilet...."I keep needing to go to wee all the time", she said....

We stayed up quite late talking about things and when it was time for bed she didn't want to sleep in her own bed....so she cuddled up with her big sister ;)

This morning, as Sarah and I took Ruby and Meg to school we were all nervous, all emotional. All the kids in the year group were gathered in the school hall, luggage of all shapes and sizes strewn across the floor; they are supposed to be able to carry their own case but some of them were huge....(you'd never know they were only going for three nights)!

When it was Megan's turn to go into class we were still waiting for Ruby to be called to get on the coach....they gave each other an enormous hug. Then Ruby made a beeline for some of the friends she has decided she would like to share her caravan with....it was apparent she has been thinking about things a bit more that she let on to us....

Sarah and I too got massive cuddles as the kids were called into their groups, ready to board the coach. Then, dragging her case along behind her, Ruby dutifully got in line and with no fuss, climbed aboard the Colefordian coach and waited patiently for the off.

It seemed to take an interminable age for everyone else to get on and get settled....and once the lead teacher had apparently showed the driver which way it was to Bude (..!!)....the coach slowly rolled off the kerb....Sarah and I caught a last glimpse of Ruby waving from the window as it crawled past and headed off....

Rubes was so calm and collected....no commotion, no histrionics....and despite all our anxieties, I'm sure she will have a fantastic time :)