Hey everyone, it’s been a long time since I posted my last article, and today I’m here to share an experience that feels like a major milestone — not just for kids, but for new parents as well.
My four-year-old daughter started nursery in April, and now, after more than seven months, I can confidently say that I’m happy with her progress. Beyond learning alphabet and numbers, I’ve seen growth in many small but meaningful ways. What I didn’t expect, however, was that her school journey would silently bring back my own childhood days.
And honestly, I believe every new parent goes through something similar. As your child steps into school for the first time, you unknowingly begin reliving memories from your own early years. Let me explain how this unfolded for me.
Learning Rhymes All Over Again
Do you remember the classic rhymes we learned as kids — Humpty Dumpty, Johnny Johnny Yes Papa, or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Now it’s time for our kids to learn them, and while teaching my daughter, I realised I had forgotten many of them.
So the funny part is, I’m learning those rhymes again with her. Every time she repeats a line, it pulls me back to the early school days when I first learned them myself.
Relearning Hindi After Years
Growing up in India, I studied Hindi in school until class eight or nine. But over the years, I forgot many words. Now, when my daughter learns Hindi basics, I sit with her — and I also end up learning Hindi all over again.
In a way, it feels like stepping back into my childhood classroom.
School Accessories and Old Memories
When kids start school, the shopping begins — pencils, erasers, sharpeners, school bags, lunch boxes, and so on. Whenever I visit the shop to buy these things, I instantly recall my own school essentials.
I still remember brands like Natraj and Apsara, but today you see newer brands like Domes everywhere. And of course, the price difference hits hard – 30 years is a long time!
This weekly school-shopping routine is another reason I feel like I’m reliving my early days.
The Lunchbox Routine
Every morning when my wife prepares lunch for our daughter, I ask her what she’s packing for the day. Schools now even send a weekly food schedule – Monday to Friday – and teachers request parents not to repeat the same lunch.
My daughter’s teacher even said, “Sir, please don’t repeat the same lunch. She won’t eat it.”
This reminds me of my own lunchbox: biscuits, namkeen, chapati – simple and repetitive. Today, kids expect variety and healthier options like fruits or stuffed items.
This difference between then and now brings back a whole set of memories.
The Eager Wait at Pickup Time
Another moment I want to share — and I’m writing this on behalf of my wife. Whenever I go to pick up our daughter from school, my wife eagerly waits at home for her to return.
I often tell her, “See, this is how my mom also used to wait for me when I came back from school.” It’s a small moment, but it beautifully mirrors our past.
Exam Preparation With a Four-Year-Old
She is just about four, and yes, exams are still exams. What she writes or speaks is secondary – the preparation itself is a nostalgic experience.
I remember my parents sitting with me, helping me revise my lessons, checking my syllabus, and making sure I practised enough. Now, we do the same with our daughter. Not with pressure – but with encouragement, so she enjoys learning at her own pace.
Reliving Childhood With My Daughter
These are a few moments that made me realise how deeply I’m reliving my childhood through my daughter’s school journey. I’m sure I’m not the only one — every new parent sending their child to school for the first time must be experiencing similar emotions.
I had been wanting to write this article for a long time, but only today did I find the time to finally express how it feels. From learning rhymes again to revisiting Hindi, from buying school accessories to waiting eagerly at pickup time – these little things make me smile and remind me of my own early school days.
Living my daughter’s childhood has brought back my own, and honestly, these experiences are becoming some of my favourite moments as a parent.
