Friday, February 22, 2008

Adventures in Preschool

"Bye, Mom. I don't need you anymore."

Last week, on Valentines Day #2 started preschool. This is the free preschool offered by our school district which #2 qualified for because of his speech delay.

It was torturous to hear him crying as a I left him on the playground. He is so little! Ok, he's pretty huge, but he IS very young. I felt like I had just turned him over to the wolves. His teacher is not in fact a wolf, but a very compassionate woman. I hid in some bushes across from the play ground to watch him. Pretty soon he picked himself up from the sidewalk (where he was tantruming), got on a tricycle and started to ride around. I watched until they had gone inside the classroom and #2 seemed happy.

Later when I picked him up, he wasn't so happy. He had had a terrible time. Uncooperative, crying; he had refused snack and recess. He ran to me and collapsed on my shoulder. Great! Now I really felt like I had made a mistake in sending him to preschool! However, I knew we had to give it another chance.

The next day when I dropped him off, we said a prayer in the car, and when it came time for me to leave, he was so busy playing he didn't even notice. And when I came to pick him up, a happy boy met me with a big hug. My heart swelled with relief and pride for him.

I received more good reports from his teacher this week and I'm feeling confident that this will be a good thing for #2.


So cute in his uniform

9 comments:

Katie said...

He looks so grown up! He's so cute with his little hair-do. I totally know how you feel about wondering if it's too soon. I'm glad he did better on day 2 - it breaks your heart leaving them screaming their little heads off! My little guy still tells me every day that, 'school fun, bus - meany!'

Audrey said...

So glad he changed for the better! I currently work in the nursery at church and those kids that sit there are scream, I just wonder what to do for them...what to do for me!

DKAZ said...

Oh my gosh-what a handsome boy! He is so cute JL.

I'm so glad he is doing so well, this will be great for him.

It's going to be crazy when #1 goes to Kindergarten in SIX months!!!

DKAZ said...

JL, he is such a handsome boy.

I'm glad he's doing so well...it will be so good for him.

MJ said...

He is so adorable. I miss #2 hugs. I'm excited and terrified to put Bo in preschool.

Peterson Family said...

That is exciting news JL!! Pretty soon you can upgrade to the FREE transportation system that will pick up and drop off your little tyke to your front door step. Okay...okay... one thing at a time, but man, my little Dude was PSYCHED to get on that BUS... he gets mad whenever I have to take him, the bus makes him feel so grown up! :)

Good for him and for Mommy who did the right thing by getting him in pre-school for the extra help!! There are so many Mom's (and Dad's) who are in denial about the help their kids need. hats off...

Megan said...

woo hoo for FREE preschool. He is darn cute!! I love that they wear uniforms in preschool!

Jami said...

He is SO cute! I love his little preppy uniform with the hair. It cracks me up. I am jealous however that this means there are days when you only have ONE child around. Now THAT - is a lovely thought!

birdie said...

Yay for #2! What a sweet little guy.

I especially how you hid in the bushes to make sure he was ok (true sign of love). It was a good thing someone didn't mistake you for some prowler-pretending to be a mom :)