Spreading Wings

Miles started pre-k yesterday! I was so excited for him, but at the same time sad, and unprepared for how emotional I would be about this day. I mean, it's only pre-k, and still only two days a week, but it is somehow different than before. This class is in a different building than the other mother's day out classes; they have to actually sit at a table and do worksheets; the play area is structured: they draw straws of various colors, which correspond to different stations. They stay at their station for an allotted amount of time, and when time is up, they move on to another one. No more naps either.

It seems like Miles has picked up on all of these new "big boy" changes and has embraced them. When arrived at his school and were getting out of the car, he handed me his auggie (what he calls his blanket) and said, "Mommy, I don't need this anymore." I was taken off guard; I thought I might have a hard time convincing him to leave it with me, but was planning to try anyway, and he didn't even wait for me to! Then inside, I documented his first few moments of pre-k with my camera, then hung around for a little while. I was standing behind him as he colored at the table as he turned around and said, "Mommy, I want you to leave now." Wow, I thought, is this the same child whom I held constantly for the first 3 months of his life, then carried around in a sling for the next two years because he wanted to be with me every waking moment? Feeling proud and dejected at the same time, I kissed and hugged him goodbye and made my way out of the classroom. While there was a little sorrow in my heart, a wonderful sense of accomplishment, satisfaction gratefulness won over as I realized my prayers had been answered. From the time Miles was a baby, I wanted him to be strong and independent, courageous and secure. He has been that way for a while now, but I saw it all growing even stronger in him yesterday. He depends on his Mommy for love and support and knows I'll always be there, that I will be there to pick him up in the afternoon. He is so secure in this that he is able to be away from me for a few hours with such ease; he makes friends very easily and is so comfortable in social situations, so different from myself as a child. I am truly blessed seeing him blossom and grow into the confident boy his today.

A few shots from his first morning of pre-k: