First and Last Day

First and Last Day of School

Her first day at her new preschool started with a look of sadness.  Her shoulders were hunched up to her shoulders.  Her bottom lip protruded as she tried to hold back the tears.  She was no stranger to daycare but it was her first day without her baby brother.  It was her first day in a new class, with kids her age in mass.  Understandably, it was overwhelming and scary for her.  Every instinct in me wanted to hug her close and to take her out for a pancake breakfast.

She continued to hold her tears in as we walked into the door.  As her new teacher approached us with a cheery morning greeting, she let the tears fall silently down her cheek.  She was holding her teacher’s hand, looking back at me as I waved.

That was in February.  I had made the decision to enroll her in a program that introduced her to kids her age and develop the skills I saw in her.

And what a transformation it was for her!  Last week we celebrated the beginning of the summer program.  Some of the kids would be leaving for vacations or spending the summer months with their parents.  We sat with her teacher to discuss her progress and the game plan for her continued development.

Big Changes

Her social skills have developed the most.  She understands the importance of sharing.  She uses words to express her wants and needs.  The concept of rules and boundaries are a part of her daily routine and it’s a joy to watch her analyze a situation and determine the best course of action.

Her greatest strength was in the literary arts.  She loves to sit down and read a book with her teachers.  She relays the stories back to them, displaying her skills and listening and comprehension. Her imagination flourishes in ways I never imagined.  Just the other day, I saw her looking out a window to a deserted roof, imagining the exotic animals that would be making the journey across.  I couldn’t help but smile at the wonder of it all.

The four months at the preschool have instilled a confidence in her that I knew was bursting to come out.  There are no more hunched shoulders.  She revels in the friendships she’s made and faces each day with new excitement.

All the while, mommy’s own tears are slipping out in pride and joy.