Cole and Preschool

When people ask about Cole's first day of preschool I always say the same thing: it could have been better, but it also could have been worse.

When I picked him up that day the teachers pulled me aside to let me know how Cole had done.  He had cried for quite a while after I left.  He eventually got over it, but would start crying again any time anyone brought attention to him.  He wouldn't sit on his mat, but he did participate in all the activities.  Unfortunately, he also tried to hit a couple of kids while on the mat.

Yes.  I'm that mom.  The mom of the hitter.

Oy.

He came home very happy about the whole experience, though, and talked and talked about it.  Until he passed out in my bed, that is.

The child was exhausted.

Yesterday we walked to preschool.  It's only about 1.2 miles from our house, so it was a pleasant - if rather muggy - walk.  The whole way there Cole kept talking about preschool and cars and more preschool and such.  In other words, he seemed quite excited to be going.  He had his backpack and everything.

And then we got there and he freaked out again.  His teacher had to pry him from me, because he was clinging to my legs like a little rhesus monkey.

Fortunately, he did better the second day.  Not perfect, of course, but better.  He even got a stamp on his hand, which means his caterpillar stayed in the "good zone".  (That's their good behavior gauge/incentive.)  He passed out for a couple hours again that afternoon.  Maybe they do cardio for the 2 1/2 hours they're there?

I suspect that once Cole gets used to the routine he'll do fine in preschool.  Hopefully.  Maybe.  Please?  I have no illusions that he'll become the perfect pupil - that's just not his style.  But if we can just socialize him enough to get a stamp on his hand 90% of the time, I'll be a happy momma.

The preschool asked the parents to create a scrapbook page for each child.  I'm sure there will be grand and glorious hand-made pages.  Me?  I totally did mine on the computer.  Because I don't have the time nor the inclination to do something like this by hand.  So here's mine.

Cole liked it - "Hey, that's Mr. Cole!" - so that's good enough for me!