But as a mother of two, it seems only a short while ago I was changing nappies and getting up for middle-of-the-night feeds.

Now my firstborn is starting school - off to begin exploring the world on her own (so to speak).

Soon there will be arguments about doing homework before watching television, why I can't take up the hem on her dress and why I think it's too soon for her to be walking to school on her own.

Despite having five years to prepare for this momentous occasion, I just don't think I am really ready.

Ultimately my experience is not going to be any different from that of thousands of other parents of preps this year.

What worries me though is there's no instruction manual on how things should play out, and I have so many unanswered questions.

Why am I nervous? She's not. Is it wrong for me to feel sad? What if she's not ready?

What if the other children are more advanced than her?

Maybe what is the most worrying, or perhaps even frightening thing about a child starting school, is that it is the end of an era.

There's no more mid-week, middle-of-the-day shopping trips, no visiting friends during the day - now it's all about the school timetable.

But while one door closes, another opens.

I've still got another child waiting in the wings, simply itching to go to school.