Yesterday was Cameron’s first day of school. He is going on Tuesdays and Thursdays to an Early Learning Center at a private Lutheran church school. It’s more like school than day care as it starts with the regular school year and he will have the same 9 classmates for the entire year. We even had a list of school supplies that needed to be purchased to start the year, like crayons, paint, and a 3 ring binder. I was so excited for him to start school so he can learn new things and especially so he can spend more time with other kids his age. But I was also nervous about it and really sad that I won’t get to spend as much time with him.
When we first arrived at his classroom, it was a bit chaotic since it was the first day for other kids too and several of them were having a hard time adjusting. As I looked around at the other kids who were crying because their parents were gone, I felt a tear or two well up in my own eyes. Was Cameron going to be as upset to be here? I had been really preparing him for the transition, telling him how much fun he would have and that I would always be back to take him home again. He had already met the teacher and seemed to like her. We just stood there for a few minutes, looking around, and I showed the teacher his blanky and star that help him fall asleep. Then I showed him the shelves of toys and he immediately grabbed a toy school bus and started driving it all over the table. Another boy, Brady, came up and got another car out and the two of them started racing the cars all over. Cameron gave me a quick kiss goodbye and then it was time for me to go. I was so glad that he seemed to be happy there, but I left in tears and cried all the way to work. I was so sad to leave my little boy.
When I came back to pick him up, they were outside on the playground and I got to watch him for a few minutes as he pushed another big car all over the yard, and didn’t let little Brady share with him. His daily report card said he didn’t nap for very long, which I suspected would happen, but that he really enjoyed playing outside and with the cars and trucks in the classroom. He also ate well for breakfast, lunch, and snack, as evidenced by all the ravioli sauce covering his clothes. The teachers said he seemed to really enjoy his first day of school!
