Liliana’s first day of school

I’ve had some major problems finding childcare for Liliana and Preston together, so I finally caved and decided to split them up. I started searching for preschools in our area or the area I work in and a couple weeks ago we checked one out. We filled out the forms, Liliana met (and hugged) the principal and vice principal, and that was that. She’s starting school.

As I talked* to Noah on the way back from the school, he said he was scared of her going to school. I asked him what his greatest fear was, and he said, “That she behaves like herself.” Our middle child, she is a unique one.

*I’m assuming you will comment on this one, RUSSELL, so I’ll say now that I was WALKING – not DRIVING – when I was talking to him.

Yesterday, she went. Her first day of school. I know it’s just preschool (or, pre-kindergarten, as they call it), but it’s in an elementary school and that makes it feel more like real school. We were going to skip the whole preschool thing, as Liliana certainly doesn’t need it for academic or social reasons, but since I can’t bring her to work with me, she has to go somewhere.

We arrived a few minutes early and Liliana joined the other early kids at the tables. She started off with pattern cards, putting little plastic bears in color/size patterns according to each card. When she got bored of that, she tried to steal the fishing puzzle game from the girl next to her. So, she may be the most out-going kid I know, but maybe she needs to work on her interpersonal skills just a tad.

When the teacher called the kids over for circle time, Liliana was the first one there (after throwing on the shelf the fishing puzzle she’d finally acquired) (it fell off the shelf) (she saw it fall and kept going to circle time). She answered all the questions the teacher asked and put in her two cents even when the teacher wasn’t asking for input.

She gobbled up her snack quickly so that she could go and play with the ponies afterward. Her classmate’s 1-year-old brother tried to play ponies with her, but she shoved him away, explaining to him that she was playing with the ponies.

Yesterday’s first day required the parents to be there, as it was the kids’ introduction to the teachers, the classroom, and their fellow classmates. When it was time to go, I informed Liliana of this fact and she yelled at me (something we’re working on) and refused to clean up the ponies. Five seconds later, as I was quietly explaining to her the consequences of YELLING AT ME, Liliana heard the teacher say it was time to go. She happily cleaned up the ponies, put the bin away, and skipped out of the room.

I can’t wait to talk to the teacher(s) after the first week and see how they’re coping.

Filed under: Liliana, milestones