At 5.30 yesterday morning I was wide awake and couldn't figure out why. As I gave up trying to get back to sleep I scrolled through my Facebook timeline and found that many other parents couldn't sleep either but unlike me, who had no reason to be awake, they were anxious about finding out if their children had gotten their first school choice for September.

Throughout the day yesterday I spoke to mummy friends, most of whom seemed elated because their child had gotten into the school they had desired and while I was thinking how great that was I was also thinking 'How the heck are they starting school in September already?!'

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

Savannah is now three and has already been going to Pre School for a year now (a fact which also blows my mind) and because she now gets government funding, from today she now goes twice a week for two full days. I am excited for her because she loves school so much but at the same time sad knowing this is the summer I need to be researching local schools and attending open days, as come September we too will be making the tough decision in picking a primary school for our little girl.

I truly can't believe how quick it goes. Two friends of mine who I know separately but are both close friends had children a week apart. Both of them text me at some point in the day elated that their little ones had got their first choice school. I too was happy for them knowing how stressed they must have been about it but couldn't help remembering both of them meeting at our housewarming, October 2012, both heavily pregnant with less than a month to go until their due dates.

So much has changed since then for them and for us, so much does change in four and a half years we just don't always notice it. When you sit and think about it you realise just how much has changed from silly things like waistlines and hair styles to big things such as children or moving house.

I have already started looking at schools and will be contacting a few this week to get the ball rolling regarding open days / visits. I feel a bit more daunted than I think I would have done were we still living in Essex because at least I would have an idea about the schools. Having only lived in Norfolk for seven months I don't have a clue about any of them although I do only hear good things about the schools nearby so am pleased about that.

What scares me though is in no time at all another year will have passed and I will be one of the anxious mums not being able to sleep because I want to know if my baby got her first choice school place. I will no doubt be then writing another blog post similar to this one, harping on about how it only feels like yesterday I was writing this one.

I hope any parents reading this who's little ones start school in September got their first choice places and I wish your child all the very best in starting a huge new chapter. I also wish you - the parent - luck in holding it together because if you're anything like me you will be a sobbing mess when the day comes(!!)

Make the most of now. Cuddle them when you can, play with them when you can and enjoy them while you can. While I will enjoy having an extra day to myself to get work, the gym and housework done I couldn't have Savannah going anymore than two days a week because I wouldn't want to miss that time we have left together. When she goes to school for five days a week next September that will be it. There will be no choice. That will be the end of our time together too. While I know it is just under 18 months away yet it makes me shudder to imagine how quickly it is going to come around.

I feel as though I am getting way too deep with this blog post now but just wanna finish it off by saying it is only in time frames like this - children starting school or pre school or just generally growing up - that we realise how quickly time has gone so we do just need to let go of the bad stuff and enjoy the little things like our kids. Even when they are being little shit bags, which I know can happen a lot, enjoy them. I may be being sentimental in this post but don't think I am being naive to the amount of times we rally our kids off to school or an overnight stay at the grandparents with glee because they have been bloody hard work and we want some peace and for nobody to call us mum for a few hours. That happens a lot I know. I guess I am just saying don't get too caught up in the here and now and the trivial things and miss the bigger picture. Enjoy the peace and quiet when you need it and then enjoy the little darlings again when they're home.

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter x