Preschool Daze

First day of preschool down, only like 14 more years to mourn the first day of school come and gone for my Riley man.  I had a nervous feeling Tuesday night.  Possibly it was due to the fact that I never saw Derrick all of Tuesday thanks to work, a park playdate with just the kids and I and then softball games at 8 and 10...seriously 10 o'clock?  But honestly it was probably just feeling the growing pains of my baby boy. 

We did all we could to excite him for his first day and he always came back with "but I will just miss you Mommy," or a "you just stay in school with me Mommy."  He went to bed a little somberly Tuesday eve and I could tell he had alot on his mind.  We said prayers and read special books about going to preschool.  Thankfully he woke up excited Wednesday morning and I was barely able to get both kids dressed and out the door since they woke up late (just when you expect an early alarm clock they sleep in until 7:15!).  We made it to school early for the obligatory first day pictures beneath the sign, next to the pine tree (excuse my 'high as a kite' look) and then a few quick backpack shots.  He was having fun finding his hook for his 'zebra', seeing his friends and hugging his teacher.  I went to say goodbye and his little fist grabbed my jeans like a vice grip.  He kept asking for one more hug and he kept repeating that he "not want to stay here, me miss you too much ready (already) Mommy."  It broke my heart.  I was able to make it out of the class and Mrs Penny his 2 yr old teacher poked her head into his classroom and said that he was doing fine so I left.  I made it to the truck and I started crying.  Derrick called to see how it went and when I told him what Riley kept repeating I almost thought he was going to cry too!  I snuck home to cry it out before meeting the mommies for Caribou while we waited to pick up our big kids.  The time went by fast and when I finally saw that it was 11:30 I couldn't get back to church fast enough.  One by one kids were walking out with smiles on their faces and my Riley was sitting at the table waiting to catch a glimpse of me so he too could leave.  Seeing his smiling face gave me such relief.  He showed me the painting he had done and asked me to pick him up so we could go home.  He didn't really want to talk about school except to say that "it not fun and me not go back again peese Mommy." He looked really tired so I figured the interrogation could wait.  While we napped his teacher Mrs Jane called and made me the proudest mama.  She wanted to let me know that Riley didn't stop smiling once, that he was a JOY to be around and that he was so sweet to all the kids especially when he decided to give up his swing and push the others instead.  As soon as I told him she called he lit up with pride and asked ever so sweetly, "that was nice of me Mommy, that make you happy?"  We spent the evening celebrating his first day with an expensive dinner at Culver's and a super fun park date feeding the ducks.  He kept saying over and over again "Mommy, I just love you so much, this so much fun."  He was literally squealing with excitement and I knew then everything was going to be just fine.  I will never stop being sad at how fast he is growing up but my tears are always bittersweet.  Bitter over letting go and leaving behind but sweet with happiness that he is surrounded by love and learning.

so tired after a long day

I will think of him every Wednesday at 9:00 as he walks into school with his sister and Nana saying goodbye's and going potty before entering his classroom to learn.  I am so thankful for Mt Olive Preschool education and knowing that he is sitting in the same chairs and classrooms that I did 25 years ago.