First day at school
Yesterday was Jaden’s first day at day care. We call it school, because the facility is set up like what I remember kindergarten to be like (from ‘oh so many years ago’). I also like to call it school so I can tell Jaden “You’re going to have so much fun at school today!” with a giant smile on my face, intensely trying to hide the angst I am feeling within myself over being without him for the day.
I find this feeling quite ironic, considering most days when he’s home, by 4:00 I’m about ready to pull my hair out. As all you mom’s out there know, it is difficult if not impossible to get much done with a toddler at home. There’s the play dates, and the library visits, the books to read and toys to play with, the ‘pick me up mommy’ whines, and all the other fun stuff like feedings, walks and naps that take away the entire day. Nowadays our little angel has added a new trick to his repertoire: he can cling like a monkey to you when you try to put him down, making it all the more difficult to do things like use the bathroom.
So when I dropped him off yesterday at 8:00 a.m. I had mixed feelings. I could go home and actually get work done for 8 hours – YAY! – but I didn’t want to leave him. 
So how did it go??? His teacher said he cried for a while after I left, didn’t want to eat, didn’t want to take a nap, didn’t want to drink his milk, and walked around most of the morning with his giraffe (favorite stuffed toy) in his mouth.
UGH
But then she said he warmed up to the other kids in the afternoon and was running all over the place, playing with everyone and everything…
Until his teacher had to leave at 3:00 and they sent in the afternoon sub. Then he cried until I got there, which was around 4:10. He must have cried so hard for that hour because he was doing that thing that kids do after they cry that’s almost like a hiccup but not quite. It took a little over an hour for those post-crying hiccups to go away. *sigh* I felt awful.
Jaden is very adaptable. He usually warms up to other people quickly. It’s just the change that throws him. I guess he had gotten used to Miss Christine, and felt safe with her, and then when she left it was like “first Mommy, now Miss Christine?” Ah well. I was worried that this morning would be awful. But it wasn’t too bad. After a little coaxing I pried his monkey-like claws and legs off of me and handed him to Miss Christine who took him over to read a book. He was fine until I started to say goodbye, and then he got a look of panic on his face. Miss Christine is terrific though, and she walked him over to the window and told him he can watch me go to the car and wave. I guess he did okay because by the time I drove past his classroom window he was already out of her arms, so I assume he was no longer crying, and probably running around trying to steal one of the other kids’ toys.
I just remembered this site and came in to read up on how things were going. I am sure Jaden will continue to adjust to school and at some point look forward to going.
I am proud you. You are a wonderful mom and are handling all the new adventures in Jaden’s journey very well.
I am so glad that he is a part of our life.
Well done Lisa – it is always hard to leave your child. It is wonderful to anticipate his hug when you return. Hope you get lots done and I agree with your mom it will get easier each time. Let me know when we can “beach”. Love, Mom F.
Every day will get easier for Jaden and he’ll do real well. It’s great that now he has the opportunity to play more often with other children. Grandma too feels better today after knowing Jaden did pretty well for his very first day of school. He’s growing so very fast.