First Day of Preschool

Today was a monumentous day for me. My 4 year old son started pre-school. I totally wasn't prepared for it at all!

I got a call Monday morning saying that Diego was accepted into the program and that I had an appointment on Thursday (today) at 11:30 to meet his teacher and fill out all necessary paperwork. So today, I took him to the school and started the process to enroll him. It only took half an hour and I was getting exciting for him. He was gonna be a pre-schooler! She filled me in on all the rules and activities that will go one this month and mentioned that he would be placed in the afternoon class which is from 12:30-4:00. After we were all done with paperwork, his teacher says... "Ok we're all done! See you in half an hour for his first day."

What?!?!?!!

So soon? I definately wasn't prepared. My husband and I had been picturing in our head of the day we'd both drop him off for his first day. The first thing he told me before I went was... "Don't forget to let me know what day he starts so I can get a lunch break to come home and take him." So I hurried up and called him right away after the initial shock wore off and apologized that he couldn't be there. He called my Best Friend who is Diego's Godmother... to come and join me. Luckily she called in sick to work today so she rushed to the school and made it right on time.

We both walked him into his class and I signed him in. Since he's in the afternoon class the first thing they do is feed them lunch. So right away Diego washed his hands and sat down to eat. We said our goodbyes. He kissed us and that was that. But I couldn't walk out the door. I kept looking at him hoping he'd be sad because I was leaving him alone... but no. He didn't even look to see if I was gone because he was in his own world. My friend and I just kept standing there staring at this little independent boy. And it was then that I realized that he didn't need me... and in reality it was I who needed him. A piece of me wasn't ready to let him go yet. I wasn't fully prepared. And although I knew that this day was fast approaching, I didn't know the rush of emotion I would feel. A few minutes passed and my friend and I looked at eachother with tears in our eyes and finally walked out.

A second later the teacher's aide walked out behind us and asked me... "Is this his first day?" To which we responded yes. She said, "Wow! He's doing great!" And before I could say anything, my friend replied... "Yeah, but we're not!!!"

So we walked back to the car in silence. Each of us reflecting on what we had just experienced. How could this baby be so grown up? It'll probably take me a while to get used to this but I know it's a good thing for him.

So congratulations Diego! Mommy loves you!