Back in wellington now, for a superb few weeks of sunny days and still calm harbour (see, Ive transformed into one of those wellingtonians who rave about the weather!) Time is flying as I approach 6 months pregnancy, and I am unable to avoid the fact anymore.....soon we will have a baby!
But its the four year olds umbilical cord I am having trouble cutting this week. He is happily doing his fourth session for 4 year olds at our play centre, and has exhibited absolutely no signs of giving a stuff that mum leaves him there by himself! He has been confident and outgoing and is really coming into his own.
But then I got an email outlining a planned trip to the zoo for the 4 year olds. Now of course we could go, however I've committed to a playcentre course that day (the lengths I'll go to to pretened to have friends) and now i have to cut the umbilical cord and let my four year old baby actually go somewhere with someone else!
Ive only had a few nightmares and sleepless hours. I thought perhaps I could get Dad to pop along the road to the zoo from work and check up on things, by peering unsuspiciously through the bushes. Dad thought that might be going a bit far and it was probably best for the child to just let him go and get on with it. Typical common sense fathering response to a illogical pregnant mothers fear, but it was not appreciated.
Its not that I don't trust the fabulous crew of Mums he will be going with, because I absolutely do. It is more that I dont trust Big Brother to not run off, and climb over a fence into the tigers cage.
In preparation I've been positively reinforcing a few of the things that big 4 years olds do, like 'staying together', 'turning on your ears', and 'listening to the adults'. I am hoping that it is just me he ignores. It is possible that he runs off on me cause he's so sick of hanging out with me that he's desperate for someone else's company!
Well, I've confessed my paranoia to the trip leader (she has been very understanding), and has my mobile number to give me updates of how fabulously he is going. So tomorrow is the big day. Wish me luck. I am sure he'll have a great morning and I can spend the time thinking about how quickly they become independent, and planning my homeschooling routine.