This is half-pie.

Rosa turned five today. Tomorrow she goes to school. Why, it seemed like yesterday etc etc. You’ve heard it before.

Anyway, at her last Playcentre session this morning she had a few visitors: her elder sister, and a couple of slightly older friends who had started school themselves in recent weeks. It’s nice that her friends, who had already gone through this, could come and acknowledge her transition to school. Not that they would have thought of it like that – for them it was a good chance for a morning off, in a much loved and comfortable environment.

Not that school won’t be either of those things – Rosa’s had a couple half days there already; she’s been going to meet her sister after school for years now; and she knows her teacher. She’s so ready for it: she’s driven to make letters and decipher numbers; and ostentatiously feigns the reading of books.

I’m not sure if we are ready though. Like with Bella, we’re left a little bereft. And now Rosa, our last baby.

Oh well. I guess this is when I’m supposed to have one of those photos of the tiny wee girl, with her brand-new back pack on, walking to school, away from the camera. But perhaps better would be the same, but hand in hand with her big sister, laughing and shouting some nonsensical rhyme… probably the truer portrayal.

You can imagine.