First Day of Preschool

big boy!

Yesterday Callum had his first day of preschool.   This is how I do things.  Normal people start their children in preschool at the beginning of September or even the beginning of January.  I arbitrarily pick a day that works for me, and yesterday happened to be it.

 The other one was full.  

Let me say this again - I heard good things about this school!  That counts for something!  Plus, when I met the teacher I really liked her!   And it isn’t a half an hour drive!  And this school is WAY cheaper meaning I have money left over to buy craft supplies.

oh, shut up.

Like I was saying, yesterday was Callum’s first day at the school even though I had gone the week before to “observe” which turns out means more than just “show up for 10 minutes” and I ended up staying for the entire 2.5 hours.  This is so you can appreciate the entire preschool experience.  I didn’t realize there was an experience, I thought preschool was kids playing someplace other than at home.  And that is basically what it means, except that there is some structure to it, and they learn to count. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in school, those 2.5 hours of preschool basically knocked me out.   Children are exhausting. 

Callum was over the moon to go to school.  He’s been talking about going to school since the fall so the fact that it was actually going to happen was almost as exciting as Santa stuffing his stocking with markers.  I didn’t exactly share his enthusiasm, but my first (second) day of preschool involved criminal checks and about 5 forms to fill out asking me questions about car insurance and updated immunizations.  Information that is not at the top of my head.  Seriously, can anyone else fill out a form without having to dig through all their files every.single.time?  Steve was all “what the hell sort of school is this?”.

Callum wasted no time enjoying everything that preschool had to offer, didn’t care one iota that I stuck around, and even ate a carrot stick (I LOVE PRESCHOOL).  But the best part was the last 5 minutes.  Just before the teacher let the kids out for the day, she would call their name and they had to put away their carpet and tell her an animal that was featured in the story she just read.  This is not an easy task for the 3-4 year olds I’ve learned.  When she called on Callum, who was one of the last to be called upon, he stood up, put away his carpet and said “penguin”.  No one else had yet to mention the penguin, which I’m sure he found remarkable because penguins are probably his second favorite animal, next to turtles.  He knew he was good to go, and turned on his heel immediately to do so, that is how sure he was.  The teacher was visibly amazed and showered him with praise.  I think she was impressed that he had an answer at the ready and that he remembered an animal no one else had mentioned.  I don’t think she realized just how much the kid wanted to get outside and play.  He’s my son, no doubt about that, thinking ahead about how to get everything in place to get what he wants.  He’s learned from the best!

Once we were out in the park, the teacher approached me to talk about Callum’s readiness for preschool.   When I went to observe I noted that Callum would be the youngest in the class by 6 months and I had some concerns.  When you’re 3, 6 months can be a big gap in development.  I wasn’t sure he would be developmentally at the same place as the other kids.  I’m the mommy, I’m allowed to obsess.

Anyway, the teacher approached me and said he was most certainly ready.  In fact, she found it exceptional that his memory recall was so good and was really impressed with his ability to pay attention and sit still.  I guess all that crap about engaging your children in conversation really is good for memory recall.

And you know I’m going to go there, right?

MY KID IS EXCEPTIONAL.

That’s what I learned yesterday in preschool.