School Girl

Berkeley had her first day of school today! She is only 3, so she's not in preschool yet, but she is in the 3's class at a Christian preschool and today was the first day. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I have always stayed home with her and she has only ever been babysat by her grandparents so I was kind of expecting lots of tears and clinging! She does ok during Sunday school, but our church recently changed buildings, so now it's like we're starting all over in a new place. I had been praying nonstop that it would go smoothly and peacefully and God totally answered my prayers! We went in and I stayed with her for 15 minutes and got her interested in some play-doh and when all the other moms were filtering out I gave her a hug and a kiss and told her I loved her and that I'd be right back to get her. As I was walking to the door I looked behind me and she wasn't even watching me leave. I was so proud of her! In the car I was a little weepy at the thought of my sweet, shy girl on her first day of school being so grown up and brave.

Poor little Oliver Bean is completely lost without her. He walked around the house calling, "Sissie, Sissie" and then he'd walk to the front window and say, "Sissie?" I explained to him that she was at school and that we could pick her up in a little bit and he'd say "Why, Sissie, Why?" It was a little heartbreaking to be perfectly honest. He is not himself when she is gone and he just doesn't know what to do without her. It will be a bit of an adjustment for both of us!

Oliver was so anxious to pick her up and was trying to be the first in line at the door. When I asked her how it went she said "Good, I didn't cry at all" and her teacher also said she did great. She said she was very quiet and kind of hung back a little bit trying to take it all in, but was very obedient and did everything she was asked to do. We got in the car and I was going nuts praising her for doing such a great job and I asked her if she liked school and she said "YYYYESSSS!" We met Tom at Dairy Queen afterwards for a special ice cream reward and when she saw him she said "Daddy, I liked school!"

This was such a huge milestone and I'm so thankful it went well. I know she is going to blossom and thrive and these are some of the sweetest, most precious years we have with her.