First Day of School

Our little girl had her first day of school on Wednesday.  Here she is all decked out in her Princess Shoes, ready to go.

Mommy did a lot of prep, taking Evie to see the school a couple of times already last June, visiting over the summer, and we also made a little book with pictures of Evie at the school.  We called the book "Going to School" and it talked about how Evie was going to be starting Montessori and what she would do there.  We had pictures of her doing activities like watering the plant and sitting at the table with Mrs. Leslie.

The book was very valuable in helping her on this first day, as the smiles didn't last long once the reality of Mummy not being there set in.  I took her up to the classroom door and she hung on for dear life and started to cry.  After having been through this a couple of times, it was easier to be ruthless this time, and I knew I had done everything I could for Evie to feel comfortable.  So Mrs. Leslie took her into the classroom, and I left to go have a morning of relative peace!

They were going to call me at one point, because she wasn't settling down, but after awhile, she asked to be put down (they were carrying her around), and she smartly marched into the coat area and got her coat on and sat on the bench!  She wouldn't leave the bench, but another little girl came over to sit with her and asked her to join her in an activity.  The kids at Montessori (at least this one) are so sensitive to the feelings of others in the class.  Eventually they did do an activity together, and Evie was happier.  She also asked to have her special book read to her, the book that we'd made about going to school.  At the end of it, Mummy comes back.

When I came to pick her up, the kids were all in the outdoor play area.  She saw me from the fence and started to cry again.  I picked her up at the gate and she said "You came back!"  "Just like in the book!"  I said.  Got my update from the teacher and then we walked home.  Just to show what kind of energy she had expended in her morning, she was fast asleep, head down, by the time we got there!

Day 2 saw some tears at the door too, but by the time I got downstairs, I didn't hear her anymore.  She had calmed down quickly, but still wanted to be in the coat area, on the bench.  She stayed there awhile until she could hear interesting noises coming from the classroom and she poked her little head up over the barrier, at which point Mrs. Leslie invited her out to try something.  Evie didn't come at first, but curiosity got the better of her and she slowly came forward to see what was going on.  And then was happy to participate in lots of activities after that.  One little boy was having a hard time as it was his first day, and she brought out her book about Mommy coming back, so that it could be read at circle time. 

Day 3 was today.  A few tears as we came closer to the school, but she stopped by the time we got inside.  I held her a bit, looked at the pictures on the bulletin board with her, and took our time climbing the stairs to the classroom.  Then she was fine.  She even used the bathroom there today, and was happy at morning's end.

I expect there may a be a little hesitation on Monday again, but she'll get through it fine.