“We set these high expectations for ourselves and then when it doesn’t go as planned, it makes it harder than it really should be. Kids are resilient and everything will be fine!”
That’s what every woman needs a best friend for. To tell you what you need to hear when you call and say, “I’m losing my head!” Today was Rocco’s first day of pre-school and if the morning were video-taped, I would have looked like a chicken with my head cut off. Well, not really for the first 2 hours of the day. Our early morning was peaceful, relaxing and exciting! I made a nice breakfast, Rocco picked out his clothes; a fall ensemble: jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and new sneakers. He insisted on combing his hair (that desperately needs to be cut-long story) and we giggled at the result.
We were just doing our thing, until I realized that I had my times all screwed up! It was 9:15am and pre-school started at 9:00. I couldn’t believe it! Thank God we’re only 5 minutes away but my poor little guy was 20 minutes late! LATE! I didn’t even get a picture of him at home, we didn’t take our time leaving the house or even walking into the building; it just felt so unnatural and rushed! I hated that when I walked him in, the whole class stopped their carpet activity to focus on his entrance. He was such a champ though and the drop-off was so different than last year. He definitely grew up! He hung his back-pack, there were no tears, he didn’t cling to me… he just kissed me goodbye and joined the class! His teacher, Miss Mara was so welcoming and cool with us arriving late but I felt so bad. More so, because I couldn’t even stay for 5 minutes to get him situated like I wanted to. And why? Because Roman had gym class! It was such a crazy morning of classes, running around and getting in and out of the car. I snapped a few pics when we returned home to document the day! His last year of pre-school before he enters the elementary school (let’s not talk about that)!
My big boy, Rocco on his 1st day of pre-school:
Our after school conversation made me think of what our conversation will probably be like in 10 years:
Me- “Hi bud! I missed you! How was pre-school? What did you do today?”
Rocco- “I didn’t do any-fing!”
(riiiiiiight)
Me- “You didn’t do anything? Did you read a book? Sing a song? Play a game?”
Rocco- “Yeah, we read a book about a mouse who went to school! And then we didn’t do any-fing.”
Me- “Tell me about the story; it sounds like a good book! What did the mouse do in school?”
Rocco- “He pooped in school. *aaaahahahahahahahaha*”
(of course the mouse pooped in school)
Me- “Well, there might be a day that you have to do that in school too and that’s why school’s have bathrooms. Do you have a bathroom in your school?”
Rocco- “Yeah! Mommy, we have two bathrooms and mommy, guess what?
(There we go, he perked up now… I can hear the excitement!)
Rocco- “We have fish in our classroom too! Mommy, can we buy a fish?”
Me- “Oh I don’t know about us having a fish but I’m happy that you’ll have a fish to take care of and spend time with at school!”
Rocco- “Mommy, I’m going to go back there tomorrow, ok? I like being upstairs. And guess what? Tomorrow we’re going to go outside and they will turn on WATER! Let’s bring a towel, ok?”
(oh boy)
Me- “WOW! Water play… (thinking…) sounds like fun! (sounds like brave teachers) I bet you’re excited, huh?”
Rocco- “YEAH!!!! We need to bring a towel and a bathing suit.”
(I swear that’s not true- I never got the bathing suit and towel memo.)
Me- “I’m excited for you, Rocco! You’re going to be a great pre-schooler this year, I know it!”
Rocco- “Yeah!”
~~~
I hope and pray that if I keep asking a million questions every day and pulling details out of my kids, they will communicate with me about their days at school. Last year, I remember Rocco constantly telling me that he didn’t do anything in school and it was like pulling teeth trying to get things out of him. But then I watched it get better over the course of the year last year! It is what it is. Girls love to give details and tell stories and boys just want to give the facts, skim over the details and move on! Well, I’m putting an end to that. I love details and I’m going to work my hardest to get them from my boys! (Wish me luck.)
So we had a successful first day… here’s to the next 9 months; I have high hopes it will be a good year! Rocco LOVES school, he thrives on the organization, the busy pace, the friendships he makes and all of the activities they do there. He needs this and I’m so happy for him! Roman’s up next! He begins class on Thursday and is more excited now than Rocco ever was… though he already told me that he wants to be in Rocco’s class “upstairs” because “he’s big” ; ) Let’s hope this whole, “Your class is downstairs” thing works out well, and that I get him there on time. That would be a good start.
How do you keep track of your kids schedules? Especially when you have 3 or more kids?
xo
Anyway-
Roman’s teacher sent home this poem on their first day and your post reminded me of it:
“When children come home at the end of the day,
The question they’re asked as they scurry to play
is, “Tell me what you did today?”
And the answer they give makes you sigh with dismay.
“Nothing, I did nothing today!”
Perhaps nothing means that I played with blocks,
Or counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted a picture of red and blue
Or heard a story of a mouse that flew.
Maybe I watched the gerbils eat today,
Or went outside on the swings to play.
Maybe today was the very first time
That my scissors follwed a very straight line
Maybe I lead a song from beginning to end,
Or played with a special brand new friend.
When you’re in pre-school
And your heart has wings,
“Nothing” can mean so many things!! “
I just LOVE this! Thank You so much for sending it to me!!! I’ll have to look into the google calendar thing too- I started setting ‘alerts’ the day before and hours before on my iPhone… lets see if this helps
I don’t know how you do it with 4 and all of their schooling and activities! I need more of you in my life 
hi there – i really enjoy reading your blog!
i live by my family planner… but your post made me think of something else… i save almost all preschool projects (and there are a lot!).. when the kids bring home their ‘art’, i write a special memory of the day on the back.. maybe a conversation, a thought,a little message from my heart. i file all of the projects in an album. saves space and maks great memories.
take care! enjoy these days!
Hi Nicole! Thank You for your comment and what an awesome idea!!! You sounds like an amazing mother and I appreciate these tips
Thanks!