Monday, September 10, 2012

Adjusting

The first week of school went very well last week.  Grace did a great job for her first few times at school.  Though a handful of kids were screaming and crying she walked into the classroom, sat down, and began playing with the toys.  When I picked her up at the end of each day she would start to cry the minute she saw me.  I think it was her relief mixed with exhaustion.  Overall, I was very happy.  All the kids loved their teachers, had fun with their classmates, and were very excited to start school again this week.

However, when we walked into school this morning I could immediately tell that Grace was about to cry.  The minute we got to her classroom she burst into tears.  I walked in with her and sat with her for a while but there was no calming her down.  She begged and pleaded with me to take her home.  She told me she loved me and that she wanted to stay with me.

I put on my big girl panties, gave Grace a big hug and kiss, told her I love her very much and I would be back to pick her up in a little while.  I turned around and walked out the door.  Outside in the hallway I instructed her teacher not to pick her up (a major offense to Grace when it is someone she does not know extremely well) and walked out of school.

I went back home and started my laundry, keeping my eye on the clock.  Two more hours to go.  I washed the windows, wrote my grocery list, and cleaned up the dishes and mess from this morning.  One more hour to go.  I decided to make a run to the store before it was time to pick up Grace from school.  Thinking I was starting to cut it close I rushed through the store, skipped my favorite cashier lady in favor of a quicker line, and sped out of the store worried that I was going to be late to pick up Grace.  Today was not a day to be late.

As I pulled up to the school I realized I was almost a half an hour early.  Okay, so I was a little anxious.  I took my groceries home, put them away and drove back to school.  As I waited for Grace to come out of school I wondered about what kind of day she had had.  As soon as she walked out the doors I knew she was fine.  She was smiling and happy and told me all the fun stuff she did.  Her teacher told me that she calmed down quickly, requested a hug, and then was happy to go about her day.  I was so pleased.

As I walked her back to the car we discussed what a fun day she had at school.

"School is so much fun!"  I exclaimed.

"Yep!" Grace confirmed.

"See, there is no reason to cry!"  I prodded her.

"I wan'ed to cai." Grace told me.

"Why?"  I asked.

"I just wan'ed to cai cuz I had to get it out.  It make my bones feew better."  she answered wisely.

I guess school can teach you all kinds of lessons.


13 comments:

Cyndy Bush said...

OK, I totally rode this emotional roller coaster with you!
As a preschool teacher for years I've been on both sides of this. It always broke my heart when my kids cried at drop-off! (btw - bribery works wonders, lol)
So glad she was happy when you picked her up, and I understand - sometimes you just need a good cry!

Kat said...

DysFUNctional Mom- I tried bribery! That always worked with my boys. I told her that if she can be a big girl when she goes to school tomorrow then I will bring her a special treat. She seemed intrigued. ;)

Mom24 said...

Awww. Good luck. Hoping it's all out of her system now.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Oh, the crying drop off is the worst..but she's got some wisdom in those words...sometimes we just need our bones to feel better.

Unknown said...

I left G crying so very many times but he was ALWAYS happy when I came back to get him and they always told me he stopped crying within no time.

Good for both of you girls... xo

Allison said...

Awwww. Max had a rough day last Thursday at drop off, so I was a little cautiously anxious about how today's drop off would go....luckily, he did fine! I'm not sure who it is harder on, the kids or us moms sending our "babies" off!

Unknown said...

I am so glad her day went well. I like her logic. Reading about her day brought back so many memories.

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Precious beyond her years, that little one. Looks like she's been taking some good notes from her mama!

lime said...

getting the cry out makes the bones feel better. smart kiddo ya got there!

i;m glad she seems to be adjusting well for the most part. good job to her and to you!

Anonymous said...

Smart girl. Both of you. They'd have called if she couldn't calm down. You made the right move letting her work it out.

Hilary said...

What a sweetie.. so cute.. so clever. I feel cheated. Both of my boys never looked back at me on their first days of school. I got a quick wave and off they ran into the school. *I* cried.. but they were fine. :)

Karen Deborah said...

so precious what a sweet girl you have, you did good mom.

Anonymous said...

Kids are wise beyond their years. Sometimes WE do just need that cry to get it all out for our "bones" to feel better! Glad she was smiles by the end of the class!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson