Lillian had been crying during the past week because Aaron’s starting preschool this week. She only had to think about him going to that big strange preschool to make the tears well up.
We told this story to one of our friends, who helpfully consoled Lillian with the fact that Aaron’s going to adjust just fine, and that he’ll have his big sister in a nearby classroom. He’ll need a little adjusting, but he’ll be fine.
I had to explain to our friend that Lillian’s not crying for Aaron.
Ah, mothers and their babies. The youngest is always their baby.
Who We Were Then
- David
- Lillian
- Maddie (5 years old)
- Aaron (3 years old)
7 replies on “First Day at Preschool”
I teared up a little bit after leaving my first daughter in preschool for the first time…I wasn’t sure if it was right to put her there for such a long time (she goes full time) when she was used to spending all the time with me and her little sis. But when I picked her up, she was obviously so ecstatic and requesting to go back that I knew I made the right move in starting her early. She’s also learned so much that I couldn’t provide for her from home– I just had to let go and see that she really is the big girl she claims to be.
I don’t know how easy it will be for me to say that though when my little one starts preschool…yes the youngest is ALWAYS the baby. So true 🙂
So true! It is hard to let go sometimes. It makes it even harder when they WANT to go! Thing One is going to be starting kindergarten in the fall. I know she is going to love it, but I can’t believe my baby is getting so big. Where did the time go?
I remember taking Kanion to daycare at age 2, I carefully explained what he would need to expect. I was worried about how he would react his first day. When we got there, he was very apprehensive and they took him from my arms crying, and as I left my eyes were filled with tears. I called soon after and they assured me that as soon as I left he was fine. I felt bad all day, worrying if we had made the right choice to have ‘impersonal’ daycare take care of him. The next day I was apprehensive about taking him, worried once again what this day would bring. I took him clinging tightly to my side, and as we walked into the classroom, he immediately wanted down and ran to play with the other children, shocked I turned and walked from the room, he didn’t cry and hadn’t begged me to stay. As I made it to the car, I had tears running down my face, Kanion didn’t need me. I felt worse that day than I had the day before, and why was I crying? For my loss, the loss of the days of my being the ultimate comforter, of Kanion needing me, of his being able to turn to me for comfort. The awareness of this made me feel even worse, I should want him to feel independant. School days have brought forth many crying days and many independant days, they have balanced out, and I have discovered that while he is growing up faster than I would like, he will always need me, his Grandma.
It’s so true. When my 5 year old started preschool three years ago, he only went 1 day a week for 3 hours. We both cried his first day. 🙁
The biggest change is going to be this fall when he starts kindergarten and it’s all day kindergarten. I know I’ll be bawling my eyes out.
My four year old just started Preschool and the hardest day of my life was her first day. I still suffer withdrawals and I yearn to have that same sense of control over her destiny and to just get a cuddle when I need it.
My Boy Shane started Preschool today. It’s harder for me than it is for him, I’m sure. Mom dropped him off, she’s going to have a tough time leaving him there, a place he is not used to. He’s been with a friend’s Daycare since he was a little baby 3 days a week and with Grandma the other two. Shane is an independent 3 year old, but it still makes me sad and proud at the same time.
Im a preschool teacher. If your child feels that you trust and respect his/ her teacher that will help the child transition well. Most of the children cry during drop-off time, make it quick, happy, head out of the classroom right away. When you do that, you are providing an opportunnity for the teacher to “connect” and “bond” and respond to your child. Your child will then trust and respect his teacher. if you decide to hang around and staaaaay! You are missing the opportunity for the teacher to be the teacher and your child to be the child in the preschool environment. – stay calm…..parents! teachers know what to do! _ Teacher B