I FOUND MYSELF LYING AWAKE AT 4am THIS MORNING. TODAY OUR LITTLE LADY WOULD BEGIN PRESCHOOL. IN TRUE FORMER-PRESCHOOL-TEACHER-TURNED-STAY-AT-HOME-MOMMY FASHION, I BEGAN OBSESSING OVER THE LITTLE DETAILS OF HER DAY. WOULD THE OUTFIT SHE PICKED OUT TO WEAR (DENIM SKIRT, T-SHIRT AND KNEE HIGH STOCKINGS) BE SUITABLE FOR THE DAY'S ACTIVITIES? WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO PULL HER SKIRT DOWN (OR UP) IN ORDER TO USE THE RESTROOM WITHOUT BECOMING FRUSTRATED? WOULD HER DENIM SKIRT PREVENT HER FROM USING THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT? ALL SILLY LITTLE SCENARIOS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WHEN IT WAS I WHO WAS THE TEACHER, RESPONSIBLE FOR A DOZEN ACTIVE AND EAGER PRESCHOOLERS. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, YOU CAN TAKE THE TEACHER OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, BUT FOREVER THE CLASSROOM WILL REMAIN IN HER HEART.
OUR SLEEPING BEAUTY WAS THE LAST TO WAKE THIS MORNING, STIRRING AT 7:45, UNUSUALLY LATE. WAKING IN FINE SPIRITS, SHE QUICKLY ANNOUNCED, "I'M GOING TO SCHOOL TODAY" AS I PLUCKED HER FROM HER ROOM. SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE COUCH, ARMS FULL OF WELL-LOVED BLANKIES AND "SCRATCHY BEAR" TO RECEIVE HER MORNING CUP OF MILK, A RITUAL SHE MAY ATTEMPT TO KEEP UNTIL AGE 18.
ONCE SHE FINISHED HER MILK AND PROGRAM OF CHOICE, SHE RECEIVE HER FIRST OF TWO VERY IMPORTANT PHONE CALLS.
"I'M GOING TO SCHOOL TODAY, DADDY!"
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS - PANCAKES WITH SPRINKLES
A COUPLE OF BITES INTO HER MEAL, SHE RECEIVED HER SECOND CALL.
"I'M GOING TO SCHOOL TODAY, NANY!"
SAD TO MISS OUT ON THE MORNING'S EVENTS, DADDY LEFT A SWEET NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HER TO DISCOVER.
SHARING IN HER EXCITEMENT, I WAS EAGER TO CAPTURE WHAT I'M SURE WILL BECOME A FAVORITE PICTURE OF MINE FOR YEARS TO COME.
HELLO CAROL NURSERY SCHOOL!
OUTSIDE HER CLASSROOM, WE PAUSED FOR ONE MORE PICTURE. AND, AS SHE FLASHED HER PEARLY WHITES, MY EYES FILLED WITH TEARS. HOW DO WE ARRIVE AT THIS PRECIOUS MOMENTS IN LIFE SO QUICKLY?
THE LITTLE LADY ENTERED HER ROOM, HUNG UP HER BACKPACK AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. I SOUGHT HER OUT FOR ONE LAST KISS, AND ESCORTED HER ANGRY BROTHER OUT THE DOOR. HE WAS NOT PLEASED TO BE LEAVING HIS SISTER BEHIND.
AT 11:45 ON THE DOT, HER CLASSROOM DOOR OPENED. ONE BY ONE, PROUD THREE-YEAR-OLDS EMERGED, EYES SEARCHING FOR THEIR MOMMIES WHO WAITED WITH ENCOURAGING SMILES, OPEN ARMS, AND ANTICIPATION. OUR LITTLE LADY FEEL INTO MY ARMS SMILING AND TIRED. SHE RECEIVED A WONDERFUL REPORT, HANDLING HER FIRST DAY "LIKE A PRO." WE FOLLOWED HER AS SHE CONFIDENTLY LED US THROUGH THE HALLWAYS AND OUT TO THE VAN. IT WAS THERE THAT OUR WEARY LITTLE PRESCHOOLER LOST IT, REMINDING ME JUST HOW BIG OF A CHANGE THIS WILL PROVE TO BE (FOR US ALL). AS SHE CRIED HER WAY HOME WITH SIGHS AND YAWNS OF EXHAUSTION, I COULD NOT HELP BUT SMILE KNOWING SHE HAD HELD IT TOGETHER FOR 2 1/2 HOURS, SO AS TO PLEASE HER TEACHERS AND PROVE HER INDEPENDENCE.
I FOUND IT FITTING THAT OUTSIDE HER CLASSROOM, THE NAMES OF HER CLASSMATES WERE WRITTEN ON NUTS.
AS FOR OUR LITTLE PEANUT, I KNOW THIS YEAR WILL BRING GROWTH, MATURATION, NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, NEW FRIENDSHIPS, EXCITING ADVENTURES, AND PROVIDE US WITH COUNTLESS MEMORIES TO CHERISH.
i love how similar our C's first days were with phone calls and notes from their daddys. :)
ReplyDeleteunsimilar? that charlotte was actually tired. i would've sworn it would wear my C out but nooooo, she was chatting it up during naptime to her animals and whoever else instead of actually sleeping.
so glad it went well - so proud of you, char!