Portalui Žmonės.lt Ilka Adams says that this September is like an adaptation for the whole family to how life will look once their daughter starts first grade.
“Although it’s not school, it’s still new to us. There will be an adaptation period, attendance in that pre-school group is mandatory, and probably they will give homework to do there. We need to support the child because I see that this year there will be more serious tasks,” the woman told Žmonės.lt.
Although their family is bilingual (Ilka is originally from Namibia), the Pauliukevičiai plan to send their daughter to a Lithuanian school. Since the girl is growing up in a family where sports are important, it’s no surprise that she herself has adopted an active lifestyle.
“Adriana attends gymnastics twice a week. We chose gymnastics because it forms the basis for any sport if she later decides to switch to something else. Gymnastics provides a very good foundation. Also, since I really like horseback riding, she recently started attending riding lessons as well.
I also noticed that she, like her father, really likes to draw – we decided to attend art classes. It’s a calming hobby. We try to maintain these three activities without overloading the girl,” she says.
The woman admits – although it seems like the older daughter was just born, her character is gradually becoming clear, and it’s hard to believe she will soon be knocking on the school doors.
The Lavrinovičiai family saw their daughter Leyla off to school – why an assistant was needed: “We found such an option”
Gerda Žemaitė accompanied her son Nikolas to 1st grade – about tears and what Markas didn’t allow her: “It seemed strange”
“Nowadays children really grow up faster. Of course, maybe we feel this way because we are parents ourselves; it seems like she just started kindergarten, and now she’s going to pre-school. But I’m glad Adriana is very childlike. She still loves to be mischievous, play with friends. I like that we have to invite her friends home, that she asks them to stay overnight. Socializing and having a best friend is very important to her. I’m glad she still needs parental attention and that we are very important to her,” says I. Adams.
The woman says that her daughter approaches studies with enthusiasm:
“She really likes reading, just like me, and my husband liked it too. It seems she has a strong desire to learn. From a very young age, we teach her that she needs to read books, be curious about everything, so that life isn’t just about screens.”
She loved learning very much
Ilka herself recalls that she loved learning as a child.
“I remember when my older brother started first grade, I always offered to help him with homework. And I was very jealous of that. I remember when I went to first grade myself, I was very sad coming home because I was expecting homework, but there was none.
At school, I was the teachers’ right hand; I always liked being their assistant. I really enjoyed learning – I received many prizes for writing and reading books. I was also very communicative – like my daughter, who really likes socializing and being in friends’ company,” the woman smiles.
“My husband and I speak English between ourselves, so our family is bilingual. Adriana speaks Lithuanian herself, understands everything, but it’s clear that not everything is perfect. So I imagine it will be a challenge for her to study only in Lithuanian. But we are ready for everything,” she assures.
