Preschool - Day 2

Hayley seemed excited enough to be strapping on her backpack again this morning and I worked HARD yesterday to make her take a nap so she wouldn't be overtired today. I felt good as we had an uneventful drive to school and Hayley seemed to be in a good mood so I was optimistic that today she would wow Ms. Colleen and Ms. Nicole with her angelic qualities. When we got to her classroom, her teachers had prepared a First Day souvenier for all the children and placed it in their cubbies. Sweet, isn't it?


I'm thinking "this" probably is what Ms. Colleen and Ms. Nicole were thinking would have been more appropriate.




And POOF! There went my confidence and my optimism for the day. Nothing like a little reminder of what my Hurricane is capable of to make me hit my knees, humble myself to God, and pray for mercy.

Pick up for Sprouts is between 12:10 and 12:25pm. On the first day of preschool, I arrived at about 12:15pm as I didn't want to seem like that maniacal parent that was ready to swoop in and rescue my child at 12:09pm. You know, I was playing it cool, like Todd and I had a big morning out on the town. But when I arrived at 12:15pm, Hayley was THE LAST child still in the classroom. I felt bad and I'm sure by that point Ms. Colleen and Ms. Nicole were ready for Hayley's mommy to arrive. I brushed it off as the first day and that's why everyone picked their child up at the strike of 12:10pm. So today, I played it cool again arriving at 12:15pm. Once again, Hayley was the last child left in class. Don't these parents have places to go and people to see in the mornings??

Fortunately when I arrived, Hayley's teachers told me she had a good day. She didn't throw any fits when they transitioned activities and didn't display her will the way she had last Thursday. She was smiling and happy and I didn't see an ounce of tear stain on her face. I was instantly relieved. That was until Ms. Nicole mentioned, "Hayley really liked her snack today." (Uh, oh... I was hoping to let the wrath of Hayley's appetite go unnoticed until September when the kids started staying for lunch.) She said that she and Ms. Colleen were utterly shocked when Hayley wolfed down her snack before the little boys next to her had even taken a bite of theirs. They said that Hayley is the tiniest child in the class so they figured she'd just play with her food and not really eat. Little did they know, eating is SERIOUS business in Hayley's book. You don't mess around. And so Hayley took it upon herself to begin teaching those little boys one of life's lessons... you snooze you loose fellas! After snarfing down her own graham cracker, Hayley went after her neighbors'. Ms. Colleen and Ms. Nicole explained to her that the napkin is her own space and they replinished her napkin with more snacks. I did let them know that Hayley is a strong eater and that I did feed her a big breakfast (3 eggs, a cup of yogurt, a piece of toast, and raspberries to be exact) and they said it was no big deal. But... don't worry fellow moms, day 2 and between my child consistently being the last to be picked up and the fact that it looks like I only feed her once a week I'm pretty sure I'm out of the running for the Sprouts Mother of the Year award.

We arrived home just in time for Hayley to swallow down an entire pb&j sandwich, large banana, milk, and grapes.

We're headed to Colorado next week. I sure hope Mimi gets the memo to stock the fridge!