Adara Starts "School"

Adara had her first real day of preschool yesterday.  She's in a class of 2 and 3 year olds at TMO (Toddler's Morning Out) and will go three mornings a week.  We started her a year earlier than Emily did because we thought she would be so sad without her sister once Emily starts full day Kindergarten next week.  And, it will give me a little time each week to get some work done while both girls are in school and Alden (fingers crossed) is napping.  In the long run I think that will be the right decision, although yesterday I was second guessing sending her away so much this year.  

We have some friends (mom and daughter) living with us for the month, and they moved in this week.  So her world is rocking a little bit right now.  She was the last kid out of the classroom yesterday (just by seconds) but the sad and serious look on her face as she silently lifted her arms up to me broke my heart.  Adara is so confident, she's the kid I don't worry about... but that look reminded me she's still my baby!  I just want to snuggle her this week.

Of course, that's me.  I think Adara is doing fine. :)

She'd gone to "orientation" the day before, where she got to play in the classroom with me there for 45 minutes.  She, of course, loved it and cried on the way home.  

The morning of school, she was dressed and had her backpack on 20 minutes before we needed to go, asking "Mommy, is it time to go yet?  ... Now can we go?  ... Is it time to go to school yet??"  She went into the class easily, and when I warned her it was almost time for me to leave, she said right away "I'm ready for you to go." and went off to play.  Emily chased her down for a goodbye hug. :)  

  

She said she had a great time, even though she had nothing to say about the other kids except "everybody tried to take my stuff"  "I tried and tried with all my might to share... but I didn't want to."  The teachers told me that she did great, was very articulate (no surprise) and polite (hmm).  She is still speechless with excitement to go back tomorrow. 

 (Her preschool meets in the basement of the white church next to Baker Library.  It was kind of a strange moment to park next to my old college dorm to walk my daughter to preschool orientation!)

 :)