The Preschool Blues

Today is Ben's first day of preschool. As I type this my cheeks are still stained with tears from leaving him. Don't worry, I managed to get out of the classroom before I started crying. Ben was none the wiser (until he's 12, finds this blog and dies from embarrassment).

He's been excited about school for months, but as the actual day approached I could tell he was somewhat apprehensive. He stopped talking about it this week and he's been having bathroom accidents. Then last night he came into our room at 3:15am and asked to sleep in our bed. He's never asked that before. I took him back to his own room, but I did lie with him until he fell asleep.

This morning went like clockwork. He woke up just before 7:00am, had breakfast, brushed his teeth, got dressed and then we played until it was time to leave. He didn't seem nervous, though his excitement was tempered. Heath decided he wanted to video tape Ben's entire walk into school, so I'll post a link to a video that's mostly Ben's and my butts walking down the sidewalk.

We dropped him off in his classroom, gave quick hugs and then his teacher whisked him off to wash his hands. I've been crying ever since.

I can't wait to hear about his first day of school. I hope he loved it. As for me, I know I'll come to love this time off, but it's 9:07am right now, I have over two hours before I need to pick him up and I have no idea what to do.

Ugh

For the past month or so Ben has been a champion at the YMCA. I'd drop him off in the child care room and he'd be happy as a clam to have new toys to play with, instead of all the old, boring toys at our house. Plus, there were BIG KIDS to watch and nothing is more fun than that!

For some reason, though, this week has been tough and this morning was terrible. Immediately when we walked in the room he started clinging to me for dear life, because he knew I was going to leave. He started bawling when I put him down and then the worst thing - he started crawling after me. So here's this crying child crawling to me and I can just hear, "Mommy, don't leave me!" I tried to get him interested in some of his favorite toys, but he wasn't having any of it and eventually I had to leave him there, crying. By the time I came back he was playing happily, but I don't know if I'll ever forget that image of him crawling after me, bawling his eyes out.

This is pretty much what it's like these days

I scream, you scream, we all scream for... MOMMY!

Ben learned a new trick and it's not a charming one.

Tuesday afternoon I had him in the bouncy seat while I vacuumed. I brought him from room to room so he could watch me, but I hadn't been paying much attention to him. I was almost finished when, over the din of the vacuum, I heard a SCREECH as though a velociraptor had just entered the room. I looked at Ben and when I did he just smiled. Then when I turned away to finish vacuuming he screeched again. Apparently this is his new way of getting my attention. So for the past couple days I've been treated to new screeches and screams of all kinds, in addition to old favorites such as:

"Don't put me down! HOW DARE YOU PUT ME DOOOOOOOWN? I realize I'm heavier than 97% of my peers, but THAT'S NO EXCUSE!"

"I don't care if the bottle's empty. I want moooooooooooore!"

and

"I''m not tired! I don't want to naaaaaaaaap! Oh, wait I guess I am tired... zzzzz..."

Buy stock in Tylenol.