I don't think my son even remembers this, but I still feel guilty. Yesterday was his first day of preschool. He had a home visit 2 weeks ago and then last week was a playground playdate with his class. He was excited to go until yesterday (defintely nervous) and I told him I would go with him, plus I would be a helper in his room a few times during the year.
We got there and he was fine as soon as he was out of the car door. We went upstairs and he went right into the room and started playing with their train. He didn't remember the room from when we visited last spring, but he saw his teacher right away and seemed at ease. We went to the water table for a minute and then he got involved in the rice table. I told him I needed to find a box in another room and that I would be back a little later. I peeked in after doing what I needed to and he was still at the rice table playing nicely with other kids there now, too (it was only half his class for the day, so 7 kids total with 2 teachers and a parent helper). So, I didn't go in. I peeked in a few other times and half the time he was involved and playing and the other half he was involved, but sort of more watching, which he often does when he encounters something new. He was never in distress, just not completely at ease for part of the time. I decided not to go in because the teachers were very attentive and he would have cried if he was upset and wanted me. All of us parents were just down the hall chatting.
So, at the end (it was a short 1 1/2 hr class), he was happy to see me, but said he had wanted me. I asked him if he needed me and he said no, he just wanted me to be there. I told him I was close by in another room so I was near him.
So of course, I feel guilty because I told him I'd be there for his first day. We can stay as many days as we need to -- the school encourages that versus leaving. And I know that the first day without me would be harder no matter when it happened. I just can't get over that I told him I would be there (which I sort of was, just not in the room). I feel like I broke his trust. Although, honestly, he'll probably say something next Tues., but it doesn't seem to bother him now. When something has had an impact, he talks about it constantly.
Anyway, I know some of you mommas can relate. I'm so happy that he is ready for preschool and that we found such a great one. I just want it to be next Tuesday so this can be resolved in my mind and DS's as he goes to his second day.
We got there and he was fine as soon as he was out of the car door. We went upstairs and he went right into the room and started playing with their train. He didn't remember the room from when we visited last spring, but he saw his teacher right away and seemed at ease. We went to the water table for a minute and then he got involved in the rice table. I told him I needed to find a box in another room and that I would be back a little later. I peeked in after doing what I needed to and he was still at the rice table playing nicely with other kids there now, too (it was only half his class for the day, so 7 kids total with 2 teachers and a parent helper). So, I didn't go in. I peeked in a few other times and half the time he was involved and playing and the other half he was involved, but sort of more watching, which he often does when he encounters something new. He was never in distress, just not completely at ease for part of the time. I decided not to go in because the teachers were very attentive and he would have cried if he was upset and wanted me. All of us parents were just down the hall chatting.
So, at the end (it was a short 1 1/2 hr class), he was happy to see me, but said he had wanted me. I asked him if he needed me and he said no, he just wanted me to be there. I told him I was close by in another room so I was near him.
So of course, I feel guilty because I told him I'd be there for his first day. We can stay as many days as we need to -- the school encourages that versus leaving. And I know that the first day without me would be harder no matter when it happened. I just can't get over that I told him I would be there (which I sort of was, just not in the room). I feel like I broke his trust. Although, honestly, he'll probably say something next Tues., but it doesn't seem to bother him now. When something has had an impact, he talks about it constantly.
Anyway, I know some of you mommas can relate. I'm so happy that he is ready for preschool and that we found such a great one. I just want it to be next Tuesday so this can be resolved in my mind and DS's as he goes to his second day.
