Ledger's First Day of Preschool

Today, Ledger started preschool with Four Seasons preschool.  His teachers are Mrs. Freeland and Miss Mindy.  We have been signed up for preschool since February and have been excited to start school ever since then.

Last night, the School Fairy visited our house bringing gifts for back-to-school: a big Lego guy, new outfit, candy, and stickers.  She also left a present for Ledger's friend Hollis, who will also be going to preschool with Ledger.  (This allowed Ledger to re-meet one of his classmates ahead of time.)  Ledger was very excited about his new giant Lego Ninjago pen (he is VERY into Legos right now) and the candy.

He wore his new back-to-school outfit and we took some pictures at home.  I knew that he would probably be too nervous once we arrived at the school to smile in pictures.  And boy was I right!  As soon as we arrived, he started clinging to my legs and saying "Don't leave me here."  I tried to get him excited to find his cubby, put away his backpack, meet the other kids, play with the toys... something.  But he just stayed glued to my side.  When it was time for parents to leave, I was the last parent remaining.  Ledger threw a monster of a fit, trying to sneak out the door, screaming, crying...  But I had to walk away.  Mrs. Freeland tried to comfort him and let him stand at the window and wave when I left.  But as I drove by waving out of my skylight (our usual goodbye tradition) he just screamed and cried and pounded on the window.  It was absolutely heartbreaking for me.  I drove one block away, pulled over and cried.  For the next two hours, I tried to keep my nervous energy contained while I talked to my family and friend confidants to help me feel like less of a failure of a parent.  Everyone reassured me that he was probably doing fine at school, but I was ridiculously anxious to pick up the little guy and find out how it went.

So I waited outside the preschool and when they released the students, Ledger came running out to me with a big smile on his face.  He had a good time and told me all about his day.  They sang songs, played with toy dinosaurs, played outside, and had a snack.  Even the teachers reassured me that he once he settled down after I left that he did fine.  Thank goodness.

I love that kid.  He's fantastic, fun, smart, and wonderful.  But he's not very daring and he's going through a particularly clingy phase right now and I am still learning just how much I need to push without pushing too far.  I think preschool will be an overall good experience, but these first few weeks are going to be a challenge for Mommy, probably more than Ledger.