A father’s diary

The article is all about experience of a father whose son was promoted to Class Prep from Nursery. My (the blogger Himanshu Guru) son was promoted to the Prep Class in Delhi Public School (DPS), Bhubaneswar. Kids don’t need to appear an examination; but they get promoted to the higher Class through assessment and here is also the same case. However, there are some memorable moments which I would like to share. Parents of school going kids may love the piece to read.

Last year, after a thorough analysis we (me and my wife) finally decided to admit Aaradha Guru (now 5 year old), also called Hardhik, my son, in the Delhi Public School at Phulanakhara in Cuttack district. We live at Metro Satellite City in Hanspal and the School is in a minimum distance (about 10 kilometers) from our place. Besides, ranking of DPS is also very good. Again, the School bus comes right inside our colony to pick and drop the students, which was another point of selection for us.

We were in look of the advertisement for admission. In December 2015 once when I was coming through the over bridge, saw the display board in front of Utkal University. Immidiately I noted down the phone number and later called the School. The next day I went to the School to buy the form and prospectus. These facts may not be interesting for reading; but the first experience of starting the admission process of a son was thrilling for me.

The next step was to make the kid ready for the interview he would have to face to get admitted. Hardhik is very effectionate and still his diction is not clear. Especially since he loves me a lot, when he talks with me his voice is adorable. It may be a shortcoming for a student but this is a precious thing for me. However, it was the thing to be dealt with in the interview. My wife also took pain to teach him about the numerics, letters and other things that was mentioned in the prospectus.

We were called for the interview in February 2016. The teacher showed some clay items and wanted Hardhik to tell the names. Fortunately he answered everything correctly. After some more questions she intimated that the kid was selected and we should proceed to the first floor for admission. We discussed about the fees and other requirements and we were given another day for admission.

After a few days we three (me, Hardhik and my wife) went to the School for admission. I reached the reception where a beautiful teacher instructed me to first visit the cash section to pay the fees. I knew I needed to pay the thick fees which is amounting to around Rs. 80, 000, but back in that moment I got a feel that in these big short schools you have to pay for everything first and then only your chance begins. After paying the fees we proceeded to the admission section where a teacher noted down detail of the kid and parent. I recall, she wrote the details in black ink in a big register and finally said ‘welcome to DPS’. I thanked God for making me eligible to finally become father of a student.

The first day of Hardhik in School

Hardhik’s classes started in April.  On the first day I took him to the gate of Metro Satellite City (about 200 meter from our house) to catch the bus. We decided to send him in the bus so that he can learn going in a bus alone. Of course other students were there but he was not introduced to them till then. Later me and my wife went to the School in our car. It took us some time to reach the junior section’s building. We went inside and looked for Hardhik in his class room; but he was not there. We looked here and there and went nervous as we did not find him. Till then he was not issued with the identity card. We asked the teacher about our son. She assured that he should be somewhere inside the building. It was a bit relaxing for us but still we were severely worried. Finally my wife went to the first floor where she found him standing accompanied by a teacher. Since there was no identity card and the four year kid could not intimate her about his Class, she was waiting for the parents. When I saw him coming down through the staircase with his mom, I felt life returned back to me. We took him to his classroom and soon the teacher started teaching them. I recall, she showed a big teddy and asked the kids ‘who can say what is this?” when most of the kids were crying.

Later on that day I went to the bus stop to receive Hardhik. He got down from the bus wearing a paper made yellow crown. It was a memorable moment for me. He intimated that the crown was provided in the School.

Hardhik in the School bus

Daily routine

Hardhik started regularly going to the school. To catch the bus at 6 40 am daily we needed to awake at 6 am. I never awoke such early only besides a few occasion. But I had to follow the routine. I use to watch movies or working on the computer till late night. So, the task was tough. But thinking of the affection I managed the new routine.

I used to take him in my bike. He was wearing the normal uniform that constituted of a half pant. After few days rainy day began and we started going in our car. He used to waive his hands with a smile when we were parting. I also was receiving him at 12 15 pm. One day I became late for a few minutes and became worried. But someone else in our colony had brought him and my wife called me and intimated about it.

Winter days

With coming of the winter days the school intimated us to make the kid wear the winter school uniform that constituted of a full pant, full shirt and a sweater. When we were going in the bike Hardhik was sitting in front of me. I used to ask him whether he was feeling cold. He always said no, but actually he was feeling. Hence, later I tried whether he can manage to sit in the rear seat so that the wind will not dash. Thankfully within a few months he could make it.

The foggy day

Life went on and once a foggy day came. That day Hardhik cried not to go to the school. On such occasions we used to take him to his school directly in our car. We three set out. There was dense fog that day. All the vehicles on the road were driving with their head lights on. But still it was tough to see an object which was even 10 meters away. I could not judge the Phoolanakhra turning and we almost reached Cuttack. There I asked a man who intimated that we left the turning about 7 kms back. We reached the school late. But Hardhik cried not to leave him there. Somehow we left him but he continuously cried and so we decided to take him back for that day.

Hardhik (2nd from right on the back row) during the Grand parents day

Grandparents’ day

One day we got notice in the almanac that the school is going to organise Grand Parents day and we are required to pay an amount and the kid’s grand parent should be present on the occasion. I intimated about it to my father. I was not expecting he would come. But he came all the way from Balangir (around 450 kms) we all attended the function. It was a very emotional and exciting moment when we saw him on stage wearing the costume. Even no parents were on their seats but perhaps all the parents were recording the moment in their cell phones.

The last days of Nursery

During the last days we saw everyday, more home task was given. Finally, we got intimation that we are required to attend the Parents teachers meet where promotion of the kid to the upper Class (prep) will be announced. We attended the function where Sweti maam, Hardhik’s Nursery Class teacher, intimated that he will attend the prep class once the school will reopen on 21^st March 2017.