Sprinting to freedom
by Cheryl, posted on September 14th, 2012 in Parenting
I might have knocked over another mom as I raced out the door.
I definitely received a few, er, puzzled looks when I sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the day,” as I skipped by the other parents waiting to sign in their kids.
Rookies.
Xander started preschool Thursday. For 8 1/2 years – except for the six months in between Sage starting preschool and me giving birth to Xander – I have had a child with me full time.
And now?
Two kids in school all day, and Xander in preschool twice a week.
Tuesday we went to orientation for an hour. Xander cried before we left and cried in the car. And then he got into the classroom and saw the eleventy-gazillion toys and found out he could play with ALL of them. So he did while the teacher talked to the parents. I wasn’t paying attention to her. Because I was listening to Xander tell the other teacher all about his trip to Las Vegas. Apparently what happens in Vegas gets reported back to your teacher.
The plan for Thursday was to drop the older two off at school and then head off to preschool. But Sawyer and Sage ended up walking to school with neighbors. Xander wanted to go to his school. Immediately. Only we would be incredibly early. I didn’t want to rain on his school parade, so off we went. And we were 15 minutes early. I took some pictures. And then he spent the rest of the time tugging on my hand and asking when we could go into the classroom. They have TOY COWS in there!!
Finally, the door opened, and the teacher literally leapt like a cheerleader and shouted “Welcome to preschool!” Which is when I discovered not enough caffeine exists on the planet to get me to be that excited.
Xander walked in, we found his name tag and he sat on the carpet for circle time. I told him to have a good day, that I’d be back, and I gave him a kiss.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel. I have spent more time alone with him than with either of his older siblings. He’s my buddy. My little guy. My Duck.
He’s older than the other two were when they started preschool. But sitting there on the carpet, he suddenly looked very, very small.
But when he nodded that he knew I was coming back later, I sprinted for the exit.
OH SWEETEST FREEDOM!
I love my kids. I do. And I know that I’ll blink and they’ll be in high school. Still, we all need a break. He’s ready for preschool and the teachers are wonderful. For six hours a week, I get to recharge. I’d like to say I did something totally awesome with my three childless hours. And maybe I did, if you consider going to the pediatrician to get paperwork filled out, grocery shopping (but alone!), unpacking groceries, running a lunch to school, and then driving back to preschool.
The teacher came out and invited us in to listen to the book she was about to read to the class. Xander saw me and smiled, and I went and sat with him on the floor. He said he had a good day.
It was a very good day. For both of us.
Tags: freedom, Starbucks, starting preschool
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