Today was Luke's first day of school. He had been on the waiting list for the public PK-3 and his name was chosen in the Lottery last Friday. I could not sleep well last night, so anxious of his first day. I could feel myself going back to my own first days in school filled with terror, screams, to the point of trowing up (how gross!). I had this love and hate relationship with school. Loved to study, learn, even take tests. But I hated to have to leave my mom for all of that. And yet, at 31 years old, I still felt that tightening inside my chest just of the thought of a first day.
When Luke was younger and went to a half day preschool, a few days a week, he experienced some crying at the beginning, but after a while he got used with the idea of going to school. But now, after being at home for an entire year, I wasn't sure how he would take in the whole experience of a full day preschool 5 days a week.
To my surprise, he was ready to launch. When I kissed him goodbye at the classroom and said that I would come back to pick him up later, he said "Yup", sounding like I had just dropped my 15 year old at the movie theater to have some fun with his friends. No kissing, hugs, teary eyes, nothing.
When I went back to pick him up, he gentled waved as he saw me. No running in tears, no shouting "Mommy" from across the room. And then he did not want to leave! I had gotten him a chocolate candy as a prize for being such a big boy and also in case he started to tell me that he never wanted to come to school again, like he does after some drop-in classes around town. But instead, I had to use that chocolate candy to bribe him out of the classroom! Should I start looking for a boarding school to keep him happy around the clock?!
I can't believe that this is the same boy that 2 weeks ago, in a drop-in movement class had his face on the floor, so embarrassed he was to stand up and repeat the movements after the teacher, with me right next to him holding his hand! Who in the World can understand a 3 year old? But yet, he was ready to launch today.
