How I Handled My Oldest Child Going to Preschool

Little J makes me so proud. He started preschool, and there were no tears… from him. I tried to take some of those classic ‘first day’ photos on our porch. Except, trying to explain the ‘look over your shoulder’ pose to a 4 year old turned out to be much more difficult than I had planned for.

[caption id="attachment_923" align="aligncenter" width="600"] sure, that works. not what I was thinking, but it works.[/caption]

Then, I loaded him into the car and spent the ride explaining how he was going to school and STAYING at school- and that I would see him later. He told me that you're not supposed to turn right on red (seriously). When we arrived, he marched into the classroom to take a look. He was a bit nervous at first, but then he folded right into the routine with the other kids. He was bubbling with excitement when he got home, so I asked him a few questions.

Me: Who was your favorite kid? J: All of them.

Me: What did you do today? J: Played with kids. Had a snack.

Me: Did you make anything? Or sing any songs? J: Yeah, we made fish. But they had glitter on them, so I didn’t bring it home ‘cuz it would be too messy.

Getting nowhere fast. Guess I’ll have to be content to hear it all second-hand. But he’s really enjoying his half-days at school. They celebrated his birthday, and he got a crown to wear for the day. He had ‘share day’, or ‘show and tell’ to children of the 80's. And he brought a T-Rex, of course.



It made me a little sad to leave him there. It’s a strange feeling, and I know many parents have to leave their children when they are much younger… but it was a first for me! I never cried before I had kids, and there I was crying in my minivan before leaving him at school for his first day! Children have destroyed me!

Have you cried more since you had kids?

Little J is Starting School!

I signed Little J up for preschool! He will be attending summer session for two weeks, then Vacation Bible School for a week in mid-August, and then 'real' preschool September 10th! On our way to the school, J asked me if he should bring his dinosaurs to show the other kids. We met the school administrator on Friday morning and Little J didn't want to leave! He asked me if we could stay because the kids looked like they were having 'so much fun'! I explained that we couldn't stay, but he would be coming to play with the kids very soon.

While I filled out forms and talked, Little J sat at a table and colored. Mayhem pushed a chair against the table, climbed on it, laughed, and threw a toy to the ground. At least this woman had a preview of the child who will likely pass through her doors in a year or so! After we were finished talking, Little J pushed his chair in and cleaned up the toys on the table. I was proud of him already!

When we went to the neighborhood pool this weekend, J was desperate for the kids to play with him. I can tell he's ready for school. He's ready to expand his horizons. I told him to say, "Hi, I'm J. What's your name?" and to ask "How old are you?" Hopefully, he will make the conversation work! And if he is ready, then I am ready. I know it will be really exciting for him to be able to play with other children his age. I am a nerd and I always liked school. It seems that J will follow in my footsteps- and I can't wait to share the fun with him!