And that’s a wrap for Year 3.

This year Raven had NAPLAN, Australia’s assessment program that tests students’ literacy and numeracy level to gauge where they’re at against national standards.

While I heard about the test a year or two prior from other mums who had kids who went through it, I didn’t know it was a big deal. I mean, it probably wasn’t that much of a biggie but I also didn’t know that some of the kids were already preparing for it months in advance until Raven pointed it out to me at the start of the school year.

“Mama, some of my classmates have NAPLAN books so they can study for the test,” she said.

“Oh, there’s books for that?!” I was astonished. The whole time I was under the impression that, you know, the school has got it all covered and the kids just come as they are.

I’m not the type to push my daughter academically, to be honest. Not at this stage. I just want her to have fun before I start acting like an Asian mum who’s gonna push her into Law or Medicine against her will.

I kid. Raven can be whatever she wants. If she wants to draw blood or blueprints, I’ll support her all the way. (Although I draw the line at OF. I mean, I gotta set the boundaries somehow.)

So anyway, I did end up buying a NAPLAN practice book. She studied sporadically here and there, and pretty much breezed through it with relative ease which gave me insight and confidence that, yep, she’s got this.

So, yeah, she did well in the test. Very well, in fact.

Just as she did well in making new friends this year, of which I am really glad because every Parent-Teacher Meeting her social skills is the only area of concern I ask about.

Raven’s very well-behaved. She’s quiet in class and even though I know she knows the answer, she’s not one to raise her hand in front of the group. But within her own friendship circle, I see she’s very animated and chatty. I think she just needs a bit more time to warm up to other people.

And I would sit there nodding at the teacher and fighting the urge to laugh because she might as well be describing me. My daughter isn’t the only one needing improvement in the social area.

Meanwhile, Jeff is excelling in it. With flying rainbow colours.

This was us on her first day of school this year. When we finally managed to get out of the door with a few smiles to spare after a morning of tears and tantrum because her bangs woke up wonky and she hated how her hair decided not to be perfect on what was supposed to be a special day.

That wasn’t the first, or the last, school morning struggles. But hey, we survived another year. That’s something to celebrate.

Next year, we’ll do it all over again.

*Raven at 8 years old