The First Day

After much anticipation, preschool began today. Benjamin was so excited. He asked me over and over again all morning (not to mention every day the past two months), "Can I go to school now?" When I finally answered yes, he made a mad dash for the door, shoving Bella along too, with an excited, "C'mon, we're going to school!" In all the rush and hub-bub, I forgot to take more pictures. But I did manage to snap one of him sitting by his cubby.


On his first day he got to make decorations for his cubby, learn a new hello song while playing instruments, as well as play with all the new toys. The other kids didn't interest him at all, but he shared well when they came over. He really seemed to enjoy himself and wasn't bothered at all when I left. It didn't really hit me what was happening until I was sitting in the parent's meeting while he was in class. In the meeting the teacher made the comment that kids are often okay the first few times and then some kids will start crying on week 2 or 3. She said it's because they have a mindset of "I can do this a few times," but when they realize that this is forever, they start to freak out. They need time to adjust to the idea that this is going to keep happening for a very long time. That's when a rock landed in my stomach. I realized that on some level, that's how I was handling this too! In my mind this was just a play date or a story time class that lasts 6 weeks and ends. But when I really had to face the fact that this is now life for us - he in school and me without him, I wanted to cry. I immediately became antsy for class to be over! So, I guess we'll both adjust in our own ways, but I hope that Benjamin will always love school as much as I did.