Lily at preschool - slowly settling in (whew! says Mom)

Lily doing her "little teapot" impression

Preschool got paused for a week while Lily and Lukasz have been sick. It was really a shame that they got so sick right at the beginning of the school year - Lily had gone to preschool by herself twice, then not at all for a week, and I think she was feeling pretty positive that she wouldn't be going back again. She knew today that she and I were going out after lunch, but she didn't ask where to right away, and I was hoping she wouldn't because then I knew she'd get upset. But sure enough, during lunch she asked, I told her, and she promptly lost her appetite and started crying. Tom was home today so he finally got to witness the little hiccup sobs mixed with "I just really don't want to go to school; I just really don't want to go there." It's heart-breaking to hear, and nothing we say makes much of a lasting difference. I was always the same way, though, just had to get in and get over the first 10 minutes of feeling like I was going to throw up, and then I was off and fine.

When we got to the school, the owner of the preschool scooped Lily up right away and dried her tears. Lily must have told her she wanted to sit in the teacher's chair because that's where she got seated. (She sat in the teacher's chair for over an hour the first two times she was there alone; at first I thought it was some kind of messed up seclusion punishment, but it turns out they are just letting her be in a safe place and she's able to get herself under control and she joins the group when she is ready. They ask her often if she'd like to join, and apparently she would say, "No thanks. I'm going to sit here until I'm ready.") I called and spoke to the owner of the preschool after an hour and 20 minutes, and apparently Lily was having a great time. She'd figured out how to spin herself on the teacher's chair and then she was following the owner around everywhere and counted some things for her. And she'd apparently stopped crying right away when she got in.

I'm so glad she's not sitting there crying for an hour... I'm very proud of her for doing what she feels is right to get herself comfortable with her surroundings. It's a big group of kids - over 20. I still totally have doubts that putting her in preschool like this is the right thing to do, but I think in terms of social interaction and becoming accustomed to being away from the family, it is a good environment for her to be in.

Back to today, a few minutes after I called the school, they called back and put Lily on the phone. And she said (and I quote), "Hi Mommy! I'm having a GREAT time. I'm having a WONDERFUL time!" She was super perky and happy and sounded very proud of herself. I guess the owner thought I didn't believe her or something. I was totally impressed also that Lily didn't crumble at hearing my voice and ask me to pick her up. She's really grooving herself in to this new environment and I'm so impressed and proud at how brave she is.

Lily also has dance class on Fridays, a 45 minute class where Lukasz and I wait outside the room for her. the first week she was there, they left the door open and Lukasz and I sat just outside the door so she could always see us. Today, they shut the door once the kids were in. There was a window to look through, but most of the time I was with Lukasz in the front waiting area reading a book. I checked on her about 5 times, and when she saw me at the window she just gave an excited wave and said something to me that I couldn't hear. But she was completely fine and having a great time, and not at all freaked out that there was a closed door between us. I think the little dance outfit she wears fills her to the brim with pride and confidence. And dancing is something she really loves to do, maybe she just needs to find a part of preschool that she really loves and then it will be just as easy for her to go there.