I am feeling a lot of emotions today.
Including grief that our littlest has come to the end of his preschool
experience. There was no Mommy's Night Out (it would have been last
Thursday night). There was no preschool graduation. No year-end party
for his class.
Instead
we drove through the parking lot this morning, and Isaac's teachers handed us a
paper sack of his stuff through the window. We chatted briefly, took
some pictures through the window, and then we were off.
I
held back tears. Isaac didn't say much. To be honest, he has been enjoying all of his
time at home with his big brother, but I think if he understood that
there was no more preschool, he would be sad.
I'm
sad that our time at Signal Crest is over, but also smiling because our
time there happened at all. Six years of dropping our little boys off at
this wonderful place. We love our community and I am grieving that this
chapter of our life is over. Without any fanfare.
I
think we will have banana splits tonight to celebrate this milestone as
a family, but it isn't the same. Nothing is the same right now.
Preschool is over. How can that be? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was dropping our floppy-haired boy off in Ms. Kathy's 2s class? Restraining tears and concerns about the days he would be away from me?
And now that season is complete. If I'm being honest, it takes my breath away.
First
day of preschool (for the last time). Jack is starting the 4s class
today. I'm so ready for school to start but drop off still made me a
little sad. Isaac is yelling "Da" his word for Jack. I think he may miss
him the most. #firstdayofschool#jackjack#lifewithapreschooler#mohaus2016
When Jack first started preschool, I worried that he wasn't learning enough. The things they were learning were things he already knew. I worried that it was a waste. But I was wrong.
Friends convinced me to relax into this time. To allow him to learn new things through play, and to just enjoy being little. Maybe they weren't book things, but they were still important things.
Over the last three years, my thinking has changed. Jack still learned a ton. Some from school, a lot from us. I gained confidence in what he was learning at home and felt a pull in a new direction as I realized that teaching him is something we do naturally, and will continue to do whether he is in a school environment or at home like we plan for kindergarten.
Preschool has served a great purpose for us. It gave me time to breathe through these early years of motherhood, it helped me ease into life with two kids, and it provided a place for Jack to make several really good friends.
It warms my heart to look back at photos from those early years and see what those friendships have turned into, even at the tender age of five. I look forward to watching these friendships blossom further.
Jack was so blessed by his year in Ms. Shelby and Ms. Sarah's class.
He went in knowing all of his classmates, many had been in previous
classes with him. He enjoyed the layed back approach of being there
three times a week.
He will always say that his favorite thing about preschool was play
bunch, but I know he especially loved the building centers, time spent
with friends, and all of the special days that preschool provides.
The 4s Classes at Jack's preschool enjoyed several special experiences, as seen throughout this post. Including the Teddy Bear Picnic and Parade, Daddy's Night, a Halloween Party, birthday's celebrated at school, a Thanksgiving Feast, a
Christmas party, a field trip to the Post Office, a Valentine's party,
Easter party, Mommy's Night, a Spring Music Program, a special Chapel about Zaccheus, and finally
their special Moving Up ceremony and end of year party.
All of this,
and so much more, packed into one fantastic year.
Today
is his last full day of preschool. I can't believe this phase is
already coming to a close. Tomorrow is his moving up ceremony and class
party. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜#lifewithapreschooler#jackjack#mohaus2017
A glimpse at Jack's 2016-17 school year in the three-day 4-year-old's class with Ms. Shelby and Ms. Sarah.
And just like that. Three years is over. Preschool graduation is done. Jack has officially moved up. He's bigger, older, wiser. We are so proud of him and looking forward to the future, even if we are sad that this phase is already complete.
Adventurous, bright, industrious and independent. #jackjack #preschoolgraduation
I'm bigger now, take a look at me. I learned my colors and my ABCs. I'm wiser now, take a look at me... Kindergarten here I come! #jackjack #preschoolgraduation
Last Thursday Jack and I drove to Nashville to visit some of my family for the weekend and to celebrate as Izzy, my niece, graduated from preschool.
When I was growing up I have no recollection of graduating from anything except high school, but it was fun and sweet to mark this passage of time with my family.
There were seven graduates, all with big personalities. They sang songs for us and wore their cap and gowns proudly. There were video interviews that were hilarious.
For Izzy's video interview, she shared that her family is getting ready to move to Florida. She also told the videographer who she was going to marry and described, in elaborate detail, a bruise she had. All of which had us laughing.
The kids also did a little play and Izzy was the main speaker. She did a wonderful job and didn't forget any of her lines. It is hard to believe she will be 5 in a few short weeks. Jack was thrilled that we got to eat cake after having to sit still for so long.
We are going to miss being able to buzz over to Nashville for quick visits with cousins once my sister and her family move to Florida, but we are looking forward to be able to visit Florida and make trips to the beach.
