Clair's first week is in the books!

Clair's first week of school has been less eventful than I thought, but not as smooth as I'd hoped.

Like most families, I suppose, we've been on a roller coaster of emotions.

Day 2 was Lester's early day at work, so he had to take Clair to school, since I had to wait for Michelle to arrive.


During summer camp, when I asked Lester how Clair did at drop-off, he lied spared my feelings by saying she did "OK," or "just fine." But on Clair's second day of preK -- the first time we left her there alone -- he couldn't even sugar coat it: "Oh, she was so hurt," he said, sadly. "She cried and cried. It was terrible."

Day 2 was a half-day, so I left work to pick her up and bring her home. When I got to her, she was all smiles, and her teacher said she only cried at drop-off and not a tear after that. "She did great today," she said. And on the car ride home, Clair even told me what she did at school! "My teacher reed a book. I see my friends [not that she actually has any.] I eat some snaaaack."
It was great! I don't think Cary and Dean have ever re-capped their day for me. Ever.

On Clair's day 3, Lester dropped her off again because I had to be in Annapolis at 9 a.m. with the boys (long story). His report: "No tears. Minimal clinging. I was pleasantly surprised."

But I was still worried because Day 3 was the first ever "nap in the class" day, which seemed to me to be a potentially high-octane event, just ripe for meltdowns and nervousness. So after I dropped the boys off at home, I went to her school and peeked in on her in the class. Imagine my surprise - and happiness -- when I walked in on this:

That's her teacher, Miss Michelle. I can't tell you how good it felt for me to walk in unannounced and see her teacher sitting there with her hand on my baby girl, comforting her as she slept. Or pretended to sleep.

The closer I got to Clair, the more I could see her eyes flitting about under her eyelids. So I don't think she was actually asleep here. But she was trying! They said it was naptime, so my girl was doing her best to take a nap! Brava, Clair!

I was soooo relieved. I still got weepy seeing her in there trying so hard to do what the teachers wanted her to do. What a good girl! And also, what a poor baby, having to sleep in class and not in her own little bed in her own little room. Ugh. My little baby girl! But I felt like maybe we were on the right path. The pre-school director hugged me on the way out the door. I'm such a sap!

Then this morning, I dropped her off again and guess what? TEARS galore. Ugh!

So I suppose the roller coaster is still in full force, and likely will be for awhile, as next week is another crazy week, getting the boys acclimated to school. She'll even have to get picked up by Miss Arlene -- the new babysitter -- who she has met twice (and thrown her shade both times) and I know that is going to freak her out!

Bottom line: I will be really glad when we are in a solid, predictable routine again. For her sake, and for mine.

Two cute/funny things from this week to note:

In Clair's classroom, the teachers put labels in the cubbies so they'll know who's full-time, who's half-day, who's three days a week, etc. Except for some reason, instead of writing "full-time" on Clair's label, they accidentally wrote "fun time." This tickled me to no end. Clair Davis: Fun times, man. Fun. Times. Hahahaha!

And Cary and Dean - who are so confused as to why Clair's in school and they're not -- got handwritten cards from their new teacher in the mail! They were SO excited!

Isn't that cute? I'm looking forward to them starting school next week. And dreading the craziness that next week is sure to be.

Hello, roller coaster. Please go away soon.

Turns out there were tears after all...

So after Clair's triumphant entry into the world of being dropped off and left behind by working parents, the dust has settled and the verdict is: Fair to middlin.'

Michelle picked the kids up at noon and the teacher (also named Miss Michelle, but not the same Miss Michelle that the boys had last year. Keep up, people.) said that Clair cried a few times, but only in short stints. Our Michelle told us that when Clair saw her waiting outside the school, she took off running, tears and all, crying, "Meeeeee-Meeeeee!"

When I asked the kids later how they all did, Dean said, "Mommy, Clairzee did good! She only cried THREE times!"

:-(

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I actually cried about that many times myself yesterday -- and I honestly would not have predicted that leaving her at school would make me weepy.  So I suppose she and I were both a little emotional yesterday. My baby girl and me: simpatico.

Funny story: When I asked Clair what she did at summer camp, she smiled and said in a sing-song voice, "I played with my toys. I ate snack. I played with my friennnnnds."

(Dean, from the peanut gallery, "She mostly just played with me, Mommy." Thank you, Town Crier.)

But when Lester came home a little bit later and asked her the same question, she said, "I crying! I crying two times, Daddy. I want Mommy and Daddy." She even poked out her bottom lip!

Of course, Lester scooped her up and hugged her tight and then carried her around like a little baby after that, so I guess mission accomplished, Clair. #wellplayed

I also think it's interesting that I got more commentary out of Clair on her very first day than I have gotten out of Cary and Dean in two years of going to school. "What'd you do today C or D?" "Nothing." "Who'd you play with?" "No one." "What'd you learn about today?" "Nothing."

So thank the Lord for Clair. Maybe I'll actually know what the hell goes on in school all day long now that she's there.

This morning, she complained a little bit about not wanting to go to summer camp, but when I left her, this is what she was doing:

So I kissed her, assured her Michelle would pick them all up later and headed for the door.

She didn't cry when I left and I haven't so much as welled up yet.

So I declare today a good day -- for her and for me.

First "No Tears" day!

Hooray!

There was no whining on the ride to school, no whining walking into the building, no whining at the doorway of the classroom and NO TEARS when I left. In fact, Dean refused to even give me a kiss good-bye. And not in a "I'm mad at you for leaving me here" kind of way. More like a "Mom, go to work already!" kind of way. Which was, strangely, kind of nice.

Everything moved so smoothly, I even got to work super early and had to turn off the alarm and start the coffee!! I'm always one of the first ones at work, but I'm not always THE first one at work.

I'm hopeful this is the way things will go from now on. No tears, smooth transitions, get to work early, get my coffee, and quiet time at my desk to read news stories and blog. Whoo-hoo!

Sidenote: I did make an appointment to meet with Miss Toni tomorrow to discuss what I consider to be some significant issues with the way she is reporting on the boys' day. I don't want to go into too much here until after the meeting. So stay tuned. (Pray *I* don't leave the meeting in tears. LOL.)

Meanwhile, I leave you with this musical gem from yesterday:

 
CRACKS ME UP!!!