we survived the 1st day of preschool!

we DID it! well, LO did it! at 21 months, he has officially started preschool! and, i'm proud to say, we survived the first day, and the second, and the third!

after visiting a dozen preschools, we chose one that felt just right. there philosophy (develop potential and discover talents), educational foundation (montessori/community learning), nutritional values (fresh whole foods and mostly grain-free), and nurturing ways (learning through love and joy) made the decision very easy for us. LO would attend a 3 hour program 3 days a week. 

LO had a gradual introduction. first, we had a meet and greet with his classroom and his teacher on a Friday. he jumped right in and made himself at home. it was awesome to see him interact with his teacher and with play his classmates.

the following Tuesday (after Labor Day) was his 1st official day of school!

we got his supplies together:

• a "Cars" backpack (with a diapers and a change of clothes)
• 3 family photos (to put up in the classroom)
• a plant (to water and care for)

then, he had breakfast and was on his way...after i took the quintessential first day of school photo!

LO's school requests that drop-off is done by car-line. the idea is that it's easier for a child to walk away and say goodbye than to watch a parent leave. he was a little spooked, but didn't shed a tear. because it's a pre-K thru 12th grade school, they have the older students help get the kids out of the cars. so instead of being picked up by a creepy stranger, he was greeted by another kid. i loved that! he walked away and went to class like no big deal.

i can't tell you what he did after that, because i drove away and tried not to weep. this day was a short day...only an hour and a half. i drove home (only 5 minutes aways), watched the clock, and twiddled my thumbs. every now and again, the dogs would bark at some noise outside, and i would rush over to quiet them down. i kept thinking LO was upstairs napping, because if he's not by my side that's where he is. and, then it would quickly occur to me that he was at school. i couldn't wait to pick him up.

finally, 10:30am rolled around. this day there was no car-line for pick-up, so i parked the car and went inside. i was hoping to spy and get a glimpse of him in action. sure enough, he was totally fine...playing in the sand box and chit chatting with his buddies.

he was having so much fun that it was a struggle to get him to leave. i had to bribe with chocolate, because i didn't want him to start screaming and upset the other kids. he gladly accepted my offer!

the second day of school, he was pretty excited and picked out his shirt. we had breakfast, grabbed the backpack, and headed to the car. halfway down the driveway, he decided he'd rather ditch school and play in the dirt. but, i convinced him that he'd have more fun at school. he trusted me and hopped in the car. 

drop-off was little tricky. i think he remembered that he was swept away the day before. so, he started calling for me when we pulled up. as soon as the car-line kid unbuckled his car seat, LO lunged out, crawled into the front seat, and jumped into my lap. he hugged me so tight and kept saying, "Momma". i hugged him and kissed him and told him that he was going to see his friends, play outside, water the plants, and have a snack! i did tell him a little lie. i told him that i would be right outside waiting in the car. i gave the car-line kid a high-five and passed LO off. he was fine. and, when i picked him up he was happy as can be!

i can't tell you how nervous i was sending him to preschool. the last 3 months of Summer, i've been debating whether to send him or to keep him at home with me. the truth is, he gets bored. there is nothing like seeing him come to life when he's around other children. he communicates differently, he plays differently, and he becomes his own little person...not Momma's baby boy. i think it's important for him to socialize, play, and learn in different environments and with different people. 

it's a bittersweet time. everything is changing. everyday he get's a little bigger, but as long as i can reach my arms around him, he'll always be my baby boy.

what can i say...we're growing up!

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