Start of the school year musings.

Our dear 4 year old started his last year of preschool a couple of weeks ago.  What a difference a year makes. We had around 15 kids graduate last year.  This year it's new kids, new families, new dynamic. The new children this year are very young, still learning about the jungle that is preschool.  Circle time is a totally new concept to some of them.  Some are still learning to keep their hands on their own bodies.  Some have adjusted so well that I'm surprised they are only 3 and this is their first year of preschool. Some are just having a really hard time. Bug, in his first year, would fit into the last category. My work day (we're at a co-op preschool) was possibly my least favorite day of the week sometimes.  Riddled with screaming, crying, hitting, I just remember coming home and having to be away from him for 5 minutes so I could regroup. It was tough.  As I've watched some of the parents deal with their own children's feelings these past couple of weeks, I recognize the worried looks on their faces. Like "Who is this kid?!" Ahh, yes, I remember it well. To those parents, I say, it does get better.  Whenever someone told me that last year, I thought they were lying.  No, it's the honest truth.  We know because we've all been there. 

This year seems to have started off well for us.  Not to say our kid doesn't have his "strong feelings" moments.  Yesterday, his teacher told me he got upset about having to clean up and cried for a while over it.  She said that when he got over it, he was so sweet, whereas last year, he would have been upset the whole day. When I picked him up him yesterday, he said "I wasn't happy for a little bit of time.  I'm ok now." I'll take it.  It's progress and even with some random outbursts, I'm so proud of how far he's come. I attribute this to a wealth of things: maturity, learning, speech therapy, etc. 

2011 first day of preschool

I've changed too.  Last year, I was so concerned with what other people thought of my parenting.  Every time Bug had an outburst, I thought "Oh my God.  They must think I really don't know what I'm doing." This year, I've admitted to myself that I quite literally don't know what I'm doing.  And, I don't care what other people think.  I just love him.  I give him more time. I talk to him about his feelings. I'm letting him be who he is right at this moment, which is a lovable, funny, sweet, kind, strong willed, expressive four and a half year old boy who loves 80's movies, making fart jokes, and talking to his baby brother in my tummy.  

2012 first day of preschool.  I made him stand in the sun. Here's a better one from this year:

Photo Credit: Marc Blackwell

Here's to an awesome school year, my sweet bug!