The First Day of School: Pre-K Edition

Today, my little one embarked on a brand new journey:  school!

As it turns out, I was definitely more nervous than he was.  A myriad of questions ran through my mind as I drove him to school. Would he like it? Would he have any potty accidents? Would he get along with the other kids? Would he listen to his teacher? Is he ready?

I tend to over think things, and I almost turned the car around and waited another day before taking him to school (as if that would make that much of a difference). After convincing myself he’d be fine because I would stay with him as long as he needed, we were off.

When we got to the school, my son was so excited. He was so thrilled to see all of the kids, that when his teacher showed him to his class, he bolted from my side, took his seat on the rug, and never looked back. Not once. My mommy ego—you know the one that says that our kids will ALWAYS need to cleave to us—was bruised. I almost started to cry, not because my ego was hurt (ok, maybe a little), but because my son’s eagerness to leave me in the dust signified that my baby wasn’t a baby anymore.

My baby, I mean, my big boy was a champ. His teacher said that he had a great day, followed directions, and from one glace at him (he didn’t have on his “emergency” clothes), I knew he didn’t have any accidents. When I got to his class, his face broke out in a huge smile, he ran to me and jumped in my arms.

“Yesss,” my mommy-ego thought, “he missed me!”

But just as quickly, it was dashed away when my son proclaimed, “I don’t wanna go with you! I wanna stay here!” (*mommy ego crumples to the floor*).

Damn.

Letting go is tough. Right now parents all over are forced to let go of their babies and let them become who they are. Even my own mother has been forced to let go of her baby, my little brother, as he begins his first year of college. As we both struggle to deal with the changes in our children’s lives, I am comforted in knowing that allowing my son to grow into a little, independent person, will help him to become a responsible, well-rounded man.

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Do you remember your very first day of school?

How did you feel on your child’s first day of school?

Do you find it hard letting go?