It was a warm morning in August. My son, Nikolas, was just 10 months old, he hadn’t even walked yet but to me he was already mature. That was the day when he first went to Nipiaki Agogi.

It was a day that I was awaiting with mixed feelings. On the one side, I was anxious and sad but on the other I was convinced about this necessity in his life that would also loosen some aspects in my life, which – for about two years – were not on the right track.  

Stress would still dominate me and when I left Nikolas at the preschool center – that also happened to be next to our house – I came back and tried to keep me busy with a cup of coffee.  Even before drinking the first sip, I heard him bursting into tears… Everything was starting from scratch.  

I overcome the shock pretty quickly even though this seemed somehow tough. As for Nikolas, he overcame his own shock even faster. Without having realized that his mum was not too far away, he was making huge progress day by day – both with regards to his behavior as well as the adaptation in his new life.  

It was his first big change, a positive one that broadened his horizons and helped him find his own way – which was actually the aim from the beginning. I’m fairly certain that he was sensing everything through his childish soul, even better than me. 

With my second son some years later, the experience was different. It is pretty common that the two siblings are very different, it was not only the case for my children. Young Andrikos had another character, much more balanced and settled and understandable. The school  was obviously the same and they both took advantage of it…

Anna Raftopoulou, 1958 – 2023

Also in this section: the adaptation / a happy child / the first separation / the selection process / 13 precious advices