Today my five year old son returned for his second year of school life, he currently attends the French version of nursery school and next year will be his first foray into the bigtime schoolwise. Nevertheless, that first day back after the long summer break always brings a mixture of emotions.

I well remember all the ‘first days’ of my older kids and I have to admit that those ‘firsts’ are getting a bit easier on me!. My eldest son started school in 1991 and I will never forget that first walk through the school gate – it was like walking the last mile with a condemned man and I was definately the weaker of the two of us!. I let go of his hand in the classroom and he walked over to join his new friends…this is when it is really hard because you have to turn and walk away and leave them with complete strangers. Something I had never done before because I stayed at home to care for my kids in the early years.

He coped brilliantly, I sat in the car outside the school and cried. Unable to drive off I sat there, outside the school for most of the morning and tried to get a glimpse of him during his recess break. No sight of him at all, then, the headmaster spotted me and approached the car. He bent down to the window and said three words: ‘He’ll be okay’. What else could I do?.

I went home and cried some more then got on with my life until it was time to collect him that afternoon. And so his school days began. I went through this anouther three times with my other sons and each ‘first day’ was just as hard as the first time. But the letting-go process was just that tiny bit easier. I have one more son to start school next year as he’s only three but I’m sure that will be the crunch for me…he’s my last and my ‘baby’.

Yes, starting school is easier for the kids than it is for us Mums.

When we decided to come and live in France four years ago it was a decision that we put alot of thought into. OK, there were some areas that we could have considered  more but no matter how much research you do there is always some area that you trip up in.

In all the decision to come here has been a worthwhile one. France is a a very family oriented society;  a relatively safe society where you can walk down the street of your village late at night and not be accosted by a group of 11 year olds carrying knives. Like in the UK. Customs and traditions exist here that have existed for centuries.

One of my elder sons has disagreed though, he has decided that France is not for him and is planning to return to Australia soon. He is 20 years old after all so it is his decision to make. He was 16 when we arrived here and, unfortunately, not much has happened here for him that makes him want to stay. The schools refused to educate him for a start. He could not speak French well enough so the authorities would not allow him to attend high school. Crazy isn’t it?. In Australia no matter what language you speak no school would dare turn you away.

Life in a rural area also is not always what it’s cracked up to be. For a teenager it can be darn boring; French teens are not as outgoing or social as Aussie teens, many of them stay at home on weekends and on Sundays France literally closes down so there is nowhere to go.

William has had his fill of France, I think there’s just too much Australian in him.