Preschool and Piggies

Well, we did it!  We made it through the 1st day of preschool.  Ella did much better than I did though!  I almost backed into a women as I left the school because I couldn’t see through my tears.  I know, it’s only 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. But, to me it’s a major milestone.

Being able to be  home with my baby girl since she was 18 months old has been a huge blessing for me and my family.  I never thought we’d be able to do it, but after loosing my job from a Chamber of Commerce who was going under, we figured out a way to make it work by becoming a home daycare provider and have been doing it ever since.  So, today when it was time to say good-bye to her for those couple of hours, I saw her grow.  I saw her grow up into a young lady right in front of my eyes.  She was so brave and so excited.  She got up this morning with a spring in her step and was the most perfectly behaved child. And she even endured me snapping a million pictures of her without one complain.

We rode to school alone today and as I drove, we talked about all that she would do during the day and when I’d be back.  She was so excited, I could see it on her face.  Though when we got there, she walked quietly into her class, took off her piggy backpack (that I’m sure my mom up in heaven who collected pigs, helped her decide on buying!) and her little coat and hung them up on the child sized coat rack.  She put on her little name tag and walked in quietly with me by her side.  We scoped out the toys as the room began to fill with the other 7 children in her class and their parents filed in.  They were also snapping a ton of pictures and I even saw one dad carrying a baby carrier in one arm and a video camera in the other as the mom took photos.

I informed Ella that it was time for me to go, but she insisted on making me a plate of pizza, ice cream and french fries to eat with chopsticks before I left.  After I “gobbled up” my yummy food, it was time to go. As I told her it was now time for mommy to go, her little voice trembled and told me how she didn’t want me to go.  I so wanted to say “OK baby…mommy will stay” or “OK, we’ll go home.”  Obviously that wasn’t an option, but in my heart as a mom, that’s what I wanted to say and do.  Luckily, the teacher noticed her fear and  heard her little voice tremble and distracted her by giving her a special job of putting out paper and paint for a project.  As I walked away, I turned to see her looking so brave as her little face turned red from holding back tears while she twirled her long red hair with her fingers. She looked so big.

The time seemed to creep by until it was time to go pick her up.  Andrew, who was sick and had slept in, got up and came down stairs looking all confused as he looked for his big sister. “Big sis is at school and will be back soon”, I told him.  And you know what, I was a little confused without her here too.  Yes, it was much quieter and relaxed at our house since my Ella is the most high maintenance, loud child I have here at my daycare, but I missed my little jumping, jelly bean. I couldn’t wait to pick her up.

I left the house 15 minutes early to go 2 minutes away.  I didn’t want her to not see me as soon as that door opened.  Thank goodness I did, because can you guess who was 1st in line to be picked up??  That’s right, My Ella Jean Jelly Bean!

I think she had a good day.  I think it will be an adjustment that will take a little time.  But, I know that once she is used to being without her mommy for a little while, she is going to LOVE it!  She’s already upset that she can’t go tomorrow.

I was so proud of her today as I watched her be so brave as I left her for the first time.  This was a big step in her little life and it was the hardest one she’s had to make, but it definitely won’t be the last. But, I do know that I will be right beside her every step of the way from preschool to college to marriage to babies to whatever comes her way in life.  I’ll be right here to help her get through it all because that’s what mamas do for their babies no matter what age they are.

Did your child start school last week, this week or maybe he will next week?  How did you your child adjust to being away from you during the day?  Did they jump out of the car before the wheels stopped turning in the school parking lot or did they have to be held back screaming as you walked out the door?  I’d love to know!  Share with me!

Tagged as: class, first day, mommy, preschool, tears