High on Preschool

I knew Oia would be a bit hesitant with the transition into Preschool. Despite being a social girl, she is still very much a girl who appreciates the company of mommy and/or daddy at all times and we can't blame her. She depends on us for many things; things that are beyond her control. In addition, we sent her during a time of immobility and shaken confidence as a result of her ankle injury. And so it was no surprise that after a couple of clingy and tearful mornings in the first two weeks, my predictions were proven correct. Red face, bottom lip, tears...hard on the both of us. The rocky start led to Oia's teacher suggesting that Oia come an additional day (3 full mornings instead of 2) to help Oia get comfortable with the change and the suggestion has made all the difference; and almost immediately.

Now, as far as I can tell, this girl loves Preschool!

How do I know this about a girl who can not fully communicate with me? Well, she's beaming with an ear to ear smile when I pick her up; not a washed look of relief on her face as in the tearful beginning. At one pick-up, she motioned and reached back for the classroom once we exited and made our way into the hall to leave the building which translates to "I'm not ready to leave yet." She toddles out of the school on her own two feet, carrying her own backpack, proudly saying "bye-bye" to all she passes; not clingy to my neck and being carried out of the building while saying a pathetic "Go, Mommy, Go" as she once did. She jabbers up a storm on the way home as if to tell me all about her morning; while I drive, listen and wished to hell that I knew what she was tell me but still thankful to "hear" all about it. She gets home, one day refusing to take off her backpack and appears to be high on Preschool as she aimlessly 'runs' the length of our house, laughing at herself and playing like tomorrow may never come. Our fridge is filling fast of Oia's Preschool masterpieces that she proudly shows to daddy once he makes his way in the door from a long day at work. Oia's actions are her words and I hear them loud and clear because on school days, she is as happy as I have ever seen her.

And I hope this never changes...