The last day of preschool

Okay, my son starts kindergarten next week and I am just now sitting down to write about his last day of preschool.  The six weeks since he finished has flown by!  Throw in a couple of out of town trips and, well, that is why I am writing about his last day of preschool now.  I figured I better get this down before he actually starts school again.

Well, all I can say is my son's last day of preschool was pretty rough, for me that is.  My son faced his last day of school with the euphoria most kids have entering their last day of school.  For the first time he understood that he was going to be heading for a break and he was definitely excited! 

Mommy was not as excited.  First, I had to get through the day without becoming a blubbery mess.  I was much more calm when I dropped him off than when I picked him up.   When I picked up my son from preschool for the last time,  I was very sad.  He was ready to run out of the door but his teacher and I made him stay in his classroom.  We had to take pictures, of course, of him in the classroom and then with his teacher and the two aides who have been with him for the past three years.  Despite the frustration that came along with my son's transition to kindergarten, these three women were a huge part of my son's introduction to school.  They have cared and nurtured him and seen him grow during the past three years as well.  They have watched him go from not saying anything in the classroom to willingly answering questions (sort of) and participating in all aspects of the class.  So there were many hugs for my son on his last day of school and the teacher and staff made me promise to keep them updated on my son's progress.  I did okay until the very end when I got choked up as we were heading out the door.

For me, I definitely felt like we were leaving a sanctuary, a cocoon that has been my son's place of growth - physical, mental, and emotional.  Now, we were walking into the unknown.  A new teacher, a new school, a completely new environment.  Obviously, I do not do so well with change as my adaptable son.  Perhaps because I am aware of potentially more challenges that he faces.  Pre-school, as all parents know, is a world of difference from elementary school.  So old fears crop up:  "will he fit in?"  "will he be accepted by other kindergarteners in the general education classroom?"  "will it be obvious that he is in a classroom for kids with special needs?".  Then of course I have the regular worries of can he make it through a full day of kindergarten, will he eat his lunch, will he remember to go to the bathroom?  It is a big difference going to school five days a week all day versus three times a week for two and a half hours.  I suppose it is more my fear of the unknown that makes me nervous.  My more pragmatic husband put it succinctly - there will be initial adjustments but our son will be fine.  I suppose I will be too.