Day two in preschool was another success! I worried that if Amelia were to have separation anxiety it wouldn't be on the first day, but instead on subsequent days. I figured once she realized that preschool means mom going away all day, then we'd have problems. So today was the test. She seemed excited to go to school again as we got ready and even on the way. Then we pulled into the parking lot, me wincing in anticipation of a meltdown. Nothing. And when she went inside, she sat down and went right to it with the other kids and the activity at hand--which, fortunately for Amelia, was snack time. I knelt beside her, told her I had to leave and to have a good day. She looked at me and said, "I love you. Have a good day mama." And there it was. Day 2.
On another note, I thought it would be a great idea to take a picture of Amelia every day before school.
It was a great idea--until I realized that she'd had a pee accident on the way to school. Ack. Then I'm stuck with what to do. Change her in the car? Take her inside? What about the picture? Why change in the car when there's a bathroom inside? Snapped the picture and took her inside. So yeah, here she is in wet pants, smiling that smile--the one just for the camera and her annoying mother. Poor thing. Look at her feet. Wet. Pants. Mama.
So stripping down to her naked baby form was not the smoothest way to start the day, but she rather enjoyed standing in front of her classmates (4 other 2-year-olds) and playing with her belly button for all to see. It was a rough start, but the rest of the day appears to have been great. When I picked her up, she was happily playing with a puzzle, looked up, and said, "Hi Mama!" The teacher told me that she had fun with the water table, made a hand print painting, and had an all-around fab day. Then she whispered, "She's just sooo sweet." To which I smiled and nodded and wondered what made her say that specifically, but figured it would be digging too much for praise to ask.
Although I did notice that she was wearing somebody else's pants when I picked her up. They were baggy around the waist and too short. ha. There was another accident on the playground. Boo.
But I've been saving the best for last. I was also informed this afternoon that Amelia . . . our Amelia Jane . . . the child who doesn't sleep anywhere but in her bed . . . the one who has to have her shades closed, sound machine on, and an entire gang of loveys . . .who won't even snuggle up in her parents' bed, EVER . . . fell asleep during nap time. On a mat. In a room full of other kids. Gang in tow.
And speaking of sleeping, I'll sign off with how I signed on this morning.
Summer went to sleep with the sun tonight. My best girl and I decided to send it off with one last summery kind of day.
We went to the zoo! It’s actually a sanctuary, which is different. It’s better than a zoo because the animals are all rescued and unable to live in the wild. They are not in captivity for the sake of human recreation and most of them are animals local to our area (the above lady excepted). This makes them a little less exotic of course (above lady excepted), but still fun to see and in most cases, not hiding behind weird glass boxes. (The above picture was not taken with zoom!) It’s not as great as a zoo in the way of mama conveniences either. The only bathroom is outside the entrance, all the way to the front. Not awesome.
Anyway, it was a new place for us and a fun way to spend the morning.
Um, someone missed the concept of acting like a big, scary bear. RAWR. Or, “Hi Mama!” as the case may be.
We had fun learning about the animals and seeing them in a natural-ish environment, but the allure wore off fairly quickly. It was a lot of walking and not a lot of sightings. . . and the whole potty thing.
Luckily, we’d scoped out a park right next door. We’d also packed some food for a picnic so we headed over to play, relax, and snack.
Our lunching, relaxing plans were disrupted as soon as Amelia saw this park.
A really awesome park! All of the structures (wagon, hotel, steam coach depot) had various park playthings like bells, puzzles, etc. The covered wagon had a steering wheel that Amelia LOVED.
“I’m turning the WHEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLL!” There were even gear shifters off to the right. So cute.
Then there was this
“I see everybody swinging, mama!!!” She looks like some kind of pioneer, wagoneering, westward bound spy. And I should know, as an historian and all.
And speaking of swings, Amelia can swing all day long. “I’m flying in the sky with the birdies!” She swings at the parks near our house all the time.
But these swings? They took swinging to a whole new dimension.
Yep. A CHAIR swing! How cool is that? Well, look at that little face. I mean, if that doesn’t say cool, I don’t know what does.
It was a good day, but we were beat by lunch. Still recovering from yesterday, we were both ready to head home and take a nap. I asked Amelia if she wanted to stop and get some tacos or eat somewhere on the way home since I had to drag her away from that park. To which she said, “No mama. Let’s just go home and eat.” Um, okay?
After lunch, Amelia slept for THREE hours. The poor thing. It really was a big day yesterday. Part of me probably was just trying to recover myself in taking her on an outing today. To reclaim the mommy/baby days, I guess. Now that she’s all academic and whatnot.
By evening, I’d decided that Wednesdays shall be for staying around the house and playing it easy. Preschool is seriously tiring stuff and Wednesday is her (read: OUR) day to rest in between. She went to bed on time tonight and went right to sleep, even though she’d only gotten up from nap a few hours earlier (when I finally went in and woke her!) and typically talks and sings to herself for a long while.
Tired Bug. Good news is that tomorrow is our whole family’s Friday! (Yes, Thursday is my Friday. Don’t hate.) Weekend!
Wish us luck for another great day at Preschool tomorrow!!
And so long summer. You’ve been good to us and we love you so. And it’s time for you to go. Until next time, friend.
Yeah, that cute little lunch pail from Pottery Barn didn't look that big until she was holding it. Don't judge me. I'm new at this and it was all rather harried, getting her here. The good news is that she will be able to take when she DOES go off to college, which, after today, will probably happen by Halloween.
Since she was sick last week, when she was supposed to start, it was a little anti-climactic today. Last week, I was a mess thinking about her starting and then by this week, it was more like, 'Is she going to school THIS week?!' And then it was a busy night and morning getting ready. I wasn't thinking much about it. I knew to take my camera to mark the occasion, which didn't feel very occasional at all.
And then I hurried through a few pictures, grabbed her hand, and took her to school. She walked in, and after I pried her off of my hand, sat down with the other 2-year-olds to listen to a story. I'd planned on hanging out for a while to make sure she was adjusted, but as soon as she tuned into the story, there was nothing left for me to do. I whispered to her that mama was going to work and that I would see her in the afternoon. "Have a great day, Sweetie. I love you very much." She didn't look away from the story, but leaned her cheek in my direction for a kiss. (On a funny side note, one of the poor kids next to Amelia, heard me say good bye and started wailing for her mama. It almost shook A up too.) I walked out, closed the (half) door. I lingered a bit and watched her. She looked up and saw me leaving and I could see her little lips begin to quiver and say something about 'mama' before looking back at the teacher and listening to the story again. I waved and left, walked out the door, down the steps, and towards my car. I blinked back a few tears, started the car, and went to work.
And that was that.
Or so I thought. I got to school early to grade some papers and get settled for the week. (Yeah, my week starts on Tuesday. Don't hate.) I looked all around my car only to realize that I'd left all of my work at home. I never do that! No work on me, I decided to go through the pre-preschool pics. Um, only 3? And they are pretty crappy too. I had a whole photo shoot planned and this is all I got? What?! Went to class and then during my break, went to my car. I just sat there waiting for the First Day Phone Call from Amelia's teacher. Just sat there and waited. Talked to the teacher, went back to class only to realize that I hadn't eaten during my whole break. Or all day for that matter. Ended class and then ran passed my students out of the classroom and practically squealed my tires (is that the right word for that?) out of the parking lot and into the preschool lot.
I guess I was stressed all day and failed to recognize it.
I picked her up, asked the questions, and packed her into the car. And then it happened. The tears. On the way home. Such a weird time, but there they were. My baby went to school today. It's only preschool and she's only 2, I know. But on the way home as I asked her about her day, I realized that this is the first time that she will have a whole part of her life that does not include me. That will be just between her and her teachers and her friends. She will have a whole world there that I won't ever really know. Or be a part of. It's hers alone.
And it's just the beginning of her having a life outside and away from mommy. And holy shit, that just. . . hurts.
Anyway, enough about me. Amelia had a GREAT day. She adjusted well, played with other kids, and had fun at school. She was talking about it and excited and said she wants to go back. She didn't nap (surprise, surprise) but did lie quietly on her mat while everyone else slept, which is a real surprise. She loved snack time and spent most of the day reading books to herself on the blue chair. She also went all day with no potty accidents! Totally shocking for such a big transition. Success! Oh and when they played with shaving cream, she balked at touching the stuff and getting her hands sticky.
Have I mentioned how much I love that kid?
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