Lily's First Day of Preschool

Ok. So. This was a BIG day for our family.

Lily went to school for the first time.

Mike took the day off to help take our little girl to school for the very first time. It was also very helpful in figuring out the logistics and the timing of everything needed to get out of the door on time. The school bell rings at 9 which means we need to be in the car and on our way at 830. A little difficult when our big girl likes to sleep in until 8. Thankfully having Daddy home is a treat and gets Lily up and moving. This morning she wanted Daddy to do everything. Eat breakfast, read a book, get her dressed, etc.

Looking a little worried and a little unsure of everything as well as being tired.

She packed her bookbag with her extra clothes, snack and her lunchbox.

She is ready.

And, oh so cute.

And, do you notice that Lily does not have her bookbag while walking into school? Well, of course. That's because Mommy forgot it! While we were trying to distract and get everyone out of the door so we wouldn't be the ones late on the first day I said that I'd grab it while I headed out. I'm pretty good about not forgetting anything for my girls but I guess I'm not in the "swing" of grabbing a book bag for Lily. Mike noticed when we were halfway to school, the kind of drive that we hit every single red light and got behind every single slow driver on the road so we knew we couldn't double back to get it and still be on time. Ugh.

We were outside the main doors as the morning bell rung and everyone rushed down to their rooms. Some holding their mom or dad's hands and some not. Lily was definitely taking everything in and definitely holding on to my hand. As we approached the room, Lily got the "look" on her face. The one that I knew she was getting anxious and unsure about being there. And, the etiquette of not being allowed to go into the room with her was certainly a difficult one to follow this morning.

While Mrs. Simonis held Vincent as he cried after he left his mommy she took Lily's hand to guide her into the room. She just smiled and nodded to us to let us know she'd be ok. After telling her about the dreaded book bag, we turned to leave our girl. It was more like a turn and speed walk down the hall so that we wouldn't be able to hear her cry, call out or anything else because I'm sure I'd most certainly break the "no enter" rule and maybe even have taken her home with me. But I didn't hear her. Not a peep.

I made it to the car, put Emma in her car seat and we even started driving out of the parking lot before I broke down. I just left my girl at school. I just took her somewhere where I knew she would be taken care of but it still wasn't easy.

I think the best thing that happened this morning was that I did forget her bookbag. We were able to go get it and take it back. The director took it down to her room while I waited anxiously down the hall to hear a report on our girl. She was weepy after we left and quickly got distracted and was ok. She was playing with a magnadoodle when we dropped the bag off and was fine. Whew. I was now ok because I knew my girl was ok.

When we picked her up, she smiled but didn't really understand what to do. She finally got excited when we wanted to see her classroom and took Daddy and Emma all around to show them things while I got to chat with her teacher. She said that Lily did great. It was a typical first day. She was quiet and observed most of the time, didn't play much in the sandbox but walked around watching everyone and everything.

That's Lily. She watches and waits. She likes to know what's going to go on before she takes part in it. During one of our first library classes she would stand in the corner for the first five songs just watching before she would even sit in my lap in the circle. So I knew that she would be like this and probably will stay like this for a few weeks or until she becomes comfortable.

As we left, she gave Mrs. Simonis a hug, waved and said bye-bye to "her" playground, "her" school and said that she wanted to come back on Thursday.

Daddy also started his First Day of School tradition.

Flowers.

They are now sitting in a kiddie cup on her playroom cubbies and when Lily looks at them she says, Daddy gave them me. I a big girl. I go to school.

We also gave her a few little things when she got home, trying to boost the school, big girl thing as much as we possibly can. A 'Pinkalicious' book and some of those shaped bracelets.

The first day is done.