It appears Sam's first day of preschool was a success.
As I said in my last post, I think I was the one with more anxiety. Sam woke up excited and ready to go. He loved getting some first day photos taken and eagerly carried his backpack to the van. As we pulled up he got a little quiet and said "you know mom, I feel a little nervous." I asked him if he wanted to pray and he said he did. After saying a prayer that he would be brave and feel happy and safe he was ready to go. As we went and signed in he said "Mom, you forgot the camera to take a picture of me with my teacher." So after running back out to the car, we returned with the camera for him to get a quick photo with Mrs. Diane. I gave him a hug and a kiss (he squeezed me a little harder than usual), reminded him that God would be with him, and then whispered to him that I saw some boys playing together and he should go ask if he could play too. My last glimpse of him was sitting down with two other boys to play a game. He was off on his own...and thankfully without any tears!
Then Cole and I were on our own.
The minute Cole realized he didn't get to stay, and Sam wasn't coming with us he burst into tears. It was such a soft, sweet cry, not a tantrum cry. You could tell his was genuinely really going to miss his big brother. I carried him to the car while he cried away and kept saying "I want Sam to come with us." On the short trip home he kept looking at Sam's seat, saying "I want Sam in his seat, I miss him" which would then lead to a little more crying. I think I could have been easily convinced to shed a few tears myself after leaving Sam but having to comfort Cole kept me from wallowing! After a few minutes at home, lots of hugs and the realization that he had mommy all to himself he began to recover. We spent some time at home playing, did our own learning time (I feel like I never get to do this with Cole as Sam always dominates) and then took a trip to the library to pick out some new books. He was thrilled with all the attention but his face absolutely lit up when I told him we would pick Sam up on our way home from the library.
Sam was happy to see us when we arrived and exclaimed that he had so much fun. In a quick exchange the teacher told me that Sam had a very good first day. I of course badgered Sam with questions on the way home in between Cole exclaiming that he had missed Sam "so much." Sam told me a little about playtime, circle time, story time, snack time and outside time. When we got home he quickly opened his back pack to show me the family picture he drew, some paper he cut and a note from his teacher about what they did today. He was pretty proud of himself.
As I said in my last post, I think I was the one with more anxiety. Sam woke up excited and ready to go. He loved getting some first day photos taken and eagerly carried his backpack to the van. As we pulled up he got a little quiet and said "you know mom, I feel a little nervous." I asked him if he wanted to pray and he said he did. After saying a prayer that he would be brave and feel happy and safe he was ready to go. As we went and signed in he said "Mom, you forgot the camera to take a picture of me with my teacher." So after running back out to the car, we returned with the camera for him to get a quick photo with Mrs. Diane. I gave him a hug and a kiss (he squeezed me a little harder than usual), reminded him that God would be with him, and then whispered to him that I saw some boys playing together and he should go ask if he could play too. My last glimpse of him was sitting down with two other boys to play a game. He was off on his own...and thankfully without any tears!
Then Cole and I were on our own.
The minute Cole realized he didn't get to stay, and Sam wasn't coming with us he burst into tears. It was such a soft, sweet cry, not a tantrum cry. You could tell his was genuinely really going to miss his big brother. I carried him to the car while he cried away and kept saying "I want Sam to come with us." On the short trip home he kept looking at Sam's seat, saying "I want Sam in his seat, I miss him" which would then lead to a little more crying. I think I could have been easily convinced to shed a few tears myself after leaving Sam but having to comfort Cole kept me from wallowing! After a few minutes at home, lots of hugs and the realization that he had mommy all to himself he began to recover. We spent some time at home playing, did our own learning time (I feel like I never get to do this with Cole as Sam always dominates) and then took a trip to the library to pick out some new books. He was thrilled with all the attention but his face absolutely lit up when I told him we would pick Sam up on our way home from the library.
Sam was happy to see us when we arrived and exclaimed that he had so much fun. In a quick exchange the teacher told me that Sam had a very good first day. I of course badgered Sam with questions on the way home in between Cole exclaiming that he had missed Sam "so much." Sam told me a little about playtime, circle time, story time, snack time and outside time. When we got home he quickly opened his back pack to show me the family picture he drew, some paper he cut and a note from his teacher about what they did today. He was pretty proud of himself.
Now, Cole is fast asleep (missing Sam took a lot out of him) and Sam is having some much needed quiet time. I think his first day took a lot out of him too. He isn't looking very tired but is a little random so I am glad we took the rest of the afternoon to lay low. Overall, Sam's first day went just about as smooth as I think it could possibly go. I give all the credit to God bringing peace to this new transition for our little family
Here are some of his first day pictures! No pictures of Mommy of course. Drew offered before he left for work but as I had a headful of wet hair I politely declined. We might have to stage another first day of school photo opt to get me in a photo once Drew gets home.
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