First day at preschool

For young parents like us, this is a major milestone in itself.

Mummee went back to work this week, since giving birth to Caleb and all the hoo-ha. She had spent most of last week researching the various neighbourhood preschools with at most a 15min drive radius from her folks’, since the grandparents will be picking Caitlin up after school, with whom she will be for the rest of the day waiting for Daddee to come get her after work.

After all the research, we decided on the one that is actually walking distance from grandparent’s, even though that’s been the one they have been suggesting from the start!

So, after all the paperwork was filled in, Grandma went to drop them off at the school with Caitlin in tow. That was Tuesday this week. The headmistress suggested that since we are already nearing the end of Feb, Caitlin can start attending the school the last few days of February, starting the very next day- Wednesday.

I got home that Tuesday to a very excited Caitlin telling me about this “school” she was at, seeing the other children, showing me the uniforms she is to wear! Grandma told me about the arrangement, and the buzz was on!

If there was a meter to measure excitement levels, Caitlin’s and mine may actually be about the same. For mine, I guess it’s understandable: What will she be like? Any separation anxiety? Will she start crying asking for us / wanna go home? Will she behave / listen to the teachers? Will she bully the other kids??

But her excitement was somewhat unexpected. She wants to go to school. There was no discouraging her. I played with her head a little, citing the 4+ hours of independence from us with complete strangers. But it didn’t seem to “work”. This is one pretty amazing kid.

Morning came, and Caitlin was readied on time. Since the school hadn’t met me before, the arrangement was that Caitlin, Grandma and I will be dropping her off that morning, for them to also meet me. Not that that is much of a problem- I am after all dropping a kid off rather than picking up (abducting) one.

A minder is always stationed at the front of the residential-house-turned-preschool. She saw my little girl in their uniform and proceeded to come get her from the car. This is apparently the standard practise of parents- they literally drop off the kids and go.

Since I had to be at work on time for a training course, I couldn’t stay to watch her. Grandma opted to do this, for just-in-case.

It was a mixed feeling for me. My little girl didn’t flinch at all. She was all independent, seemingly starting to take on the world with this small little first step in her life. She took the minder’s hand, and walked away from her Daddee as a confident toddler would, a tiny backpack on, pony tail bouncing behind her, not looking back at all, no sign of reluctance; as if she’s done this many times before. I had to call out “Bye Caitlin” before she looked back and did the same with a wave to her Daddee, and Grandma. Grandma started carrying out her pre-planned mission of staying behind to see if she is needed.

Grandma left 15 min later.