Summer School

Today was Evie's first day of preschool!  The community center 2 minutes from our house has a program called "Mother's Day Out of Westchester (MDOW)" for little ones starting at age two.  Evie will go every Wednesday for 8 weeks from 9-12.

I changed her outfit three times.  I knew my mother would yell at me for not putting her in a dress, but it was a little cool out.  I wasn't feeling any of her dresses for a mid-60's type morning.  I ended up putting her back in the original outfit I picked out.  She might be a little chilly in sleeveless, but it would have to do.  She looked cute

Evie was very excited about wearing her Elmo backpack to school.

The morning was a big blur to me

 
I had a nervous stomach and got slightly choked up at times while getting her ready.  Suddenly I wished I asked more questions at the open house!  Do they have snack?  Do I bring a straw cup for her?  Will she have some down time just to look at books?  AHH!

No anxiety here.  She's ready to go

She proudly walked into school.  She clung to me when we reached the classroom and shed some tears.  Miss Heather, the teacher aide, picked up her and was very sweet to her.  Mom, exit stage right.  Before I left I told Miss Heather that her straw cup was in her backpack.  She looked at me oddly and asked if Evie couldn't drink from a little cup.  Well, she probably can if you want water all over the place!  I wanted to justify why my daughter can't drink from an open cup yet (like I have a 5 month old too and can't handle one more mess right now), but I simply said "she just turned two"

My three hours with Braylen went super fast.  We went to Trader Joes and spent the rest of the morning preparing for the afternoon.  School is so close I set up our lunch on the kitchen table before I left.

When I arrived in the classroom, Evie was sitting with the other kids on the rug.  She instantly fussed and cried my name when she saw me.  Miss Julie, her teacher, said, "She is REALLY (I was waiting for cute or adorable or something to that effect) tired."  When I asked Miss Heather how it went.  She said she was "really tired" too.  As Evie fussed and tore apart a library book (first time EVER) over the next hour at home, I realized "really tired" was probably a nice way of saying my daughter was a hot mess.

Evie opened up her backpack at home and hung her fish craft on the refrigerator.  She got very upset with me when I took her name off her back. She kept saying "back, back!" and pointing to her back. 

All day I have been struggling with what they said to me.  I feel like I didn't prepare her enough for school.  She was probably so frustrated having to follow directions and interact with 11 other kids.  She barley makes it one hour at the playground.  Three hours was definitely a lot for her.  And her water bottle didn't look touched.  She was probably hungry and thirsty.  We snack 2 times over three hours at home.  It eats me up to think I am the parent of that kid.  I have no idea what really happened at school- Evie can't tell me.  I think I will arrive a little earlier next week and peak in on her.  I really hope I am wrong that Evie was a terrible two the entire time....  this is why I am sending her to school though; I want her to be prepared for real preschool since she will be one of the youngest and smallest kids. 

I need to make friends with other moms at MDOW stat.  I feel so clueless about what goes on there!  Encouraging and uplifting comments for the confidence shaken mama, please.