A Grandma’s First Day of Big School

When your grandchild starts “big school” for the very first time, the emotions are a mix of pride and nerves in equal measure. I’ve been through this three times before, watching each of my grandchildren take those first brave steps. But this time, with my fourth grandchild, things felt a little different.

You see, she has a rare disease. You can’t see it, but it’s always there. So alongside the usual worries — will she make friends, will she settle in, will the teachers work out that I’m “Grandma” when she talks about “Bubbie”? — there’s the added layer of concern: will she get her snacks on time to prevent hypoglycaemic episodes?

Thankfully, her school has been incredible. They’ve taken the time to meet with her parents, inform her teachers, understand her needs, and learn how to support a child with a rare condition. That reassurance allows me to exhale. It means I can stand at the school gate on my pick-up days with a treat in hand (grandparents do have a spoiling clause in the contract, after all!) and know she’s safe.

And just like with the other three, I can skip off in the puddles afterwards, confident that with the right preparation — whether it’s raincoats and wellies or thoughtful school support — we can weather anything that comes our way.