First Day of "Pre" Pre-K

Yesterday marked my baby (well, not so much) boy's first day of "school." While I am relived that he isn't actually school aged yet, it is still hard nonetheless. Brian has been going to the Little Sprouts Learning Center at our church ever since he was about 6 months old. He started out in what is affectionately known as the "baby room" and now he is in the big-boy 3 year old class. I am going to be honest- I have been a little worried about this year for a couple of reasons.

1) Brian stopped going to Little Sprouts last year in September. I am about to admit something right now that is going to make me seem like a lunatic, but I pulled him out because of all the swine flu hysteria. Yes, I was one of those mothers who watched and read all about the bad stuff and wanted to wrap my child in a little bubble. So needless to say, Brian would be out of the whole going to school routine.

2) We are (as everyone knows) in the middle of potty training. He is doing exceptionally well- staying dry for almost 3 hours at a time, using the potty more frequently, not crying about it...So I was a little concerned as to how this was going to be affected by school. On one hand, I thought maybe seeing the other kids go would encourage him even more. But then again, my son is a routine, one way or the highway kinda guy.

So even though he was very happy when I dropped him off and didn't shed a tear (total opposite from last year) I was still very apprehensive. Well, lucky for me, those two things really weren't an issue!

But naptime sure was.

It was not good.

Not good at all.

I think the exact words were, "Got up and ran around throwing his blanket."

My heart sank. My well-behaved, always sweet, easy-going baby boy did not do the right thing at naptime. I was immediately sent into a depression that his teachers were going to label him "that kid" and that they would cringe when they saw him coming down the hall. After being told how overly-dramatic I was being (hoping for an Academy Award...fingers crossed!) I realized the truth.

It was his first day of school in almost a year.

There were 15 other little bodies in that room.

He is a 3 year old.

Better yet, he is a 3 year old BOY.

So after I had the evening to get ahold of myself, I realized that he IS going to be "that kid"- the one that radiates kindness and always thinks of others. The one who always has a smile on his face and a Lighting McQueen in his hand. I believe in my baby and I know that it's just going to take a little time before he gets the hang of this naptime thing.

Brian and McQueen's ride to school.

Holding Ninny's hand.