Preschool

Today was Berit's first day of preschool. Should I be emotional?

I remember when she turned one, and my sister-in-law asked me how I was doing, and said how she had been a little teary-eyed when her oldest had crossed that milestone into toddlerhood. I was surprised; I didn't feel that way at all, and wondered if I should have.

It's not saddening to me that my babies are growing up. I don't mind marking milestones and passing them by. As I write this, I'm realizing that I should play the part of the loving mother in the movies, a sad but happy smile on her face when her baby walks for the first time. Instead, when my kids took their first steps away from me, I snapped a pic, wrote a blog and turned the other way to do the dishes. Is this horrible?

I'm proud of them. I'm impressed with each new ability. I love seeing them discover and explore. I brag, brag, braggity brag-brag all day to my sister (who was a little sad that Berit had her first day of school today; couldn't believe she was such a big girl; called repeatedly and took real notes about each part of her day). And now I wonder what it is that would make me happily sad. 

I also wonder if it's my own parents' attitude, reflected in my personality. They looked forward to the day I would graduate, go to college, get married, move hours away. There was never any sadness -- only progress (away from their house? Bank accounts? :)). I'm not looking forward to the day that my children leave my nest, though. I just don't mind so much that Berit's in preschool.

All of that said, preschool was. fan. tastic. Berit bounded out the door this morning with a kiss tossed to me, nary a worry in her head. Trevor was going to stay for her first day -- our preschool is a co-op and parents work in the classroom every day, and are welcome to stay nearby even if it's not their day to work -- but she fell into sync so easily that he set up the computer in the lounge area of the church the school's in and worked. She needed help for the potty and she came to find him, and he poked his head in a few times to snap pics (coming soon), but otherwise he didn't see much of her for 2 1/2 hours. Marta and I arrived to pick her up and she bounded out of the classroom, gave Marta a huge hug (!?!) and announced, "Mommy, I want to stay here all day!"

(This is what Berit did in preschool today: Free play, calendar, circle time [where Berit wrote the number 1 on the board], two projects [bunny ears and a paper plate bunny], snack, more free play, jumping in the "jumper" and something to do with learning. In 2 1/2 hours! At our house we'd fill that time with free play, free play, snack, free play. Looks like I'm going to have to step up my game.)

I also had a great morning, with a napping baby and a toddler in school. I did the elliptical machine while listening to my book for a nice long workout, then did something I believe I've only done one other time in the past three years: Took a full shower in the daytime, without Trevor being home. Washed my hair, did my makeup, put on a true-blue outfit and not stretchy pants. Marta woke, and we left to pick up Berit, arriving a whole hour early because I wanted to drop Berit's medical form off to the pediatrician on the way -- but it only took me a minute to do this, and not the half-hour I had planned because I was not running on "Do it myself" toddler time. 

It seems preschool is going to suit our family just fine.