First Day

After a nutritious breakfast of "cheesy eggs," cinnamon toast and milk, Calem was ready to make his debut onto the preschool scene. He was eager to go to school and packed his Thomas the Tank Engine backpack with the essentials:
1 red matchbox car, 1 old cell phone, 2 pieces of pretend money, 5 pieces of construction paper, and 1 ziploc bag containing emergency underwear and a change of clothes. I was afraid that the new school shoes might not go over well, as Calem has become very accustomed to his orange crocs and prefers them over any other footwear, but the new shoes proved a novelty, and he seemed quite proud to be wearing them. So, at 9:10 am he was all set and headed out to the car. I'm pretty sure he would have driven himself, given the opportunity.


He couldn't wait to enter the classroom when we got there. Unlike the little girl screaming and clutching the door frame as her mom was trying to settle her into the classroom, Calem didn't even look back or wave goodbye before he bounded into the classroom and began his first day of "school," ever. Part of me felt a little sad that he wouldn't miss me, didn't cling to me, didn't say, "Mommy, you stay." But the bigger part of me felt proud that my little man is happy and secure and flexible about changes in life. Yes, I'm happy that he is starting this new chapter with happy enthusiasm, and little fanfair. Upon returning to pick up Calem after class, he ran out the classroom door and shouted his familiar, "Mommy! I had FUN!" I've heard this many times, as this is his normal mantra every Sunday when I pick him up from Sunday School. It makes my heart glad to hear it. "Mommy! I had FUN!!" Afterall, isn't that what preschool is all about?