Ready or Not, We're Going to School

Preschool begins for Bridget on Tuesday morning and we kicked it off last Friday with Open House. We've been talking about preschool since January when we first registered her and it's been nothing but happy and exciting talk ever since. She seemed to have it all figured out. Mommy would walk her to the door every morning and then leave, but come back after lunch. She would do things like play on the playground, play dress-up, sing and dance, paint and have so much fun! She got it. She was ready. Or so I thought...

Friday night was a rude awakening for us. We spent the day so giddy about going to school later that night. She practiced her crisscross applesauce legs, she picked out her pretty flamingo dress to wear, she told me she wanted chicken nuggets and Diet Coke for our dinner out with her friend Sammy...(we don't really let her drink Diet Coke-she just thinks she does. I'll save that story for another time!) I was so happy for her and couldn't wait to watch her run into the classroom and do her thing.

When we got there she hesitantly walked down the long hallway to Mrs. Wolff's classroom. She peeked her head in the door, stopped dead in her tracks and turned on the side of Bridget that we like to see the very least. The stubborn, yelling, loud crying, feet stomping, determined to get her own way side. Yes, this side does exist and I'm not going to deny it. But the truth is, this is such a small part of her amazing little personality.

I couldn't believe it. I was sad for her, I was sad for us and I was so disappointed that this was the first impression she was making. There were a lot of adults in the room and I'm guessing that is what scared her at first. I found myself wanted to be that parent and yell out, "She's never been to school before," "She's so sweet, really," "She was so excited about coming tonight, I don't know what's wrong." But the teacher side of me told me to just play cool and save the excuses! We did get her into the classroom where she did eventually begin to play happily with the other boys and girls. The staff was wonderful and kind and Mrs. Wolff gave us some great words of advice for how to handle this on Tuesday morning for the real deal.

Turns out I forgot to bring my camera that night, but that's okay...the pictures wouldn't have been pretty!

When we left and got in the car we asked her why she cried and she said, "I was scared." I asked her if she wanted to go back in a few days and she said yes. I asked if she was going to cry next time and she said no. A small part of me is hoping that maybe the worst of it is over. Maybe she now knows what to expect and that there really is nothing to be scared of. Maybe...

Tomorrow we will relax at home doing nothing but her most favorite things. We will get to school bright and early Tuesday morning and be prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. Since Friday night I have had a lump in my throat, knots in my stomach and a big pool of tears in my eyes just waiting to gush out as we walk away from her on Tuesday morning.

And no matter what happens on Tuesday morning, the mommy part of me wants you to know that she is so sweet, she has never been to school or anything like it before, and she really has been so excited about it for so long. We love you Bridget!

Brand new shiny things for the big day!

Check out our very first school project! We had to decorate this paper with all of the people and things that are most special to Bridget. Mrs. Wolff will laminate it and they'll use it everyday as a placemat for snack and lunchtime.