the preschool diaries: the first almost-full day of school

Today was Jonah’s first day of preschool. I dropped him off at 8:30 this morning. Will pick him up after lunch at 12:30.

Here’s what the toddler house looks like, from the front (to go with the interior and yard photos I posted yesterday):

And here is Jonah, dressed for battle (note lunchbox briefcase which he insisted on carrying up the stairs and was still gripping mightily when I left him, about one hour ago):

And here is what I packed inside his lunch box (the special bento box the school provides/sells to all parents to make the teachers’ lives easier — they only have to open one lid per child):

(Turkey and gouda sandwich with arugula; cucumbers, tomatoes, and raita; rice cakes; cubed Dubliner cheese and dates. Will post after-photo later to document what actually gets eaten.)

On the drive over, Jonah was melancholy. He said, “Want to go to a DIFFERENT preschool. NOT the one with all the KIDS. Mo-mmeee was NOT in the house,” (he is reminding me of that first visit when I’d left and he’d forgotten about me until later and became upset/incensed/hysterical at not being able to find me).

Earlier this morning, he’d tried suggesting alternatives. “Want to go to the ZOO… Want to STAY HOME with MOMmy and DAaaddy.”

Once at school, he was happy at first to see the little duck spigot on the hose outside, he climbed the stairs without any struggle, but he started digging in his proverbial heels as soon as we got to the back door. No, he would not like to put his lunch in his cubby. He resisted crossing the threshold, muttering, “No, mommy will NOT go for a WALK.” (He has learned from last week’s visits that that is what I say when I leave.)

Eventually I was able to get him into the coat area, take off his boots and jacket, though still could not wrestle the lunch bag out of his hand. We sat and talked and snuggled for a bit. I explained that I had to leave to do work, and he would be doing work here, playing with play-doh and having snacks and circle time and singing and reading books, and that I would pick him up after lunch.”Mommy carry YOU around,” he said. I picked him up and held him, but did not start walking around. One tear rolled down his cheek.

Reading books — that was how we’d decided we’d handle the transition. Chandelle took her cue. I handed Jonah to her as she was explaining that they would go read If you give a Moose a Muffin, a brilliant intuitive choice on her part as she could not have known how very much Jonah likes Moose, and Muffins, and that we have a different book in the series, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake at home.

I worried that I hadn’t really said good-bye, that he might get upset again when he realizes I’m not in the house. But Wendy assured me as I was leaving that he is a kid who is relatively easy to console.

As I was walking out the back door, I could see them in the next room, the teacher and Jonah sitting on the little couch together in the reading nook, with three other children gathering around at their feet to listen.