The Unexpected

Growing up has never been easy specially going to a new school and making new friends, meeting new teachers and acclimatizing to the new environment. It so happened that my 3 year old started his new school this Tuesday (Sep 8, 09) and we parents felt that more than him being excited and worried, we were getting the jitters and butterflies in our stomach.

A day prior to start of the school, we attended the in-famous "Back-to-School" session, a culture that we had never seen and experienced when growing up in India. Our school days were usually getting ready the night before, with parents ironing our clothes and packing our bags and getting us ready for the next day of school. Out here in US, they do everything big (now is that a good sign or not.... you decide it) and how can going to school can be left out. I rushed from my office battling the traffic on the Capital Beltway (I-495), crossing the Dulles Toll Road (I-267) and finally reaching home just in time to quickly change and head out with my son to his school.

The atmosphere outside of school was similar to a Multiplex in India after a show is over. People and cars were all over the place and we had to search for parking for at least 5 minutes before we parked in front of my wife's office (yeah, she works in the building next to my son's school). With parents from all sorts of backgrounds with large bags containing supplies for the kids for the school year were rushing for the orientation for their kids. As soon as we entered the school, the receptionist and many others from school welcomed us and directed us to a large board where lists of kids and their respective classes was posted. It reminded me of the days when I used to flock to my school on result day to see have I really passed my final exams this year or not? (Fortunately I did that every year with flying colors and made my parents proud)

Aadeesh (my son) was placed in K3-Section A and we headed over to his class. To our surprise, the class was full of parents and students who will be attending with my son. The class was jam packed with tables and chairs (I have to admit, I can hardly fit on any of those as they were so tiny) with each students name clearly written on a white piece of paper. We found Aadeesh's name and started to fill up the paper work that was placed against his name tag. Once completed, I handed over the paper work to the teacher and engaged in a long discussion as a worried parent (all parents are worried, I thought I am the most worried one...) to discuss about the things kids will be doing, the eating schedule, the food that will be provided (we are vegetarians hence had to double check in the land where people call Fish/Sea Food as vegetarian food) and many other questions that I had on my mind.

The teacher calmed me down with appropriate answers after which I thought to meeting other parents whose kids are going to be in my son's class. To my surprise 80% of the students were Indians from different cultures and the remaining 20% completed the diversity in this land of mixing bowl. I said to myself, "There you go son.... you have some competition from we desis". Half an hour into the room, the teachers of his class explained us what to expect from tomorrow for kids, what will they be doing and where to drop off and pick them up before and after the school.

Thankfully, Aadeesh is full time in the school until 6 PM, but we decided to bring him home everyday around 4 PM. After all, how can a mother's heart let her son be away from her for so long? (Mom/Dad- if you are reading this...... I now understand your worries when you left my hand and let me go in my school for the first time in Mathura). With all questions answered and all formalities completed, we did end up making many friends whose kids will now be Aadeesh's classmates and spending this school calendar year learning and growing together.

We finally took a tour of the school and showed Aadeesh his school and he was very excited to see the toys and fun places (including a Rain Forest and Sea play area with familiar faces of Nemo/Aligator and others). Our inquisitiveness about the school and all the things the kids will be doing was satisfied and we started back for our home with a sigh of relief half way through. The other half brought us back the demons of letting the piece of our heart go into an oblivion that we know is good for us, but only hesitate to let him go from our comfort zone.

After all, parents will always be parents.... they too have to grow up.......Aadeesh started his school the following day and is giving me many more opportunities to write all about his experiences as growing up in the land of opportunity.