School's out!

It was yesterday that my Bear finished his first year of preschool. It has been amazing to see him grow and flourish from a shy 3 year old to a very sociable 4 year old.

I had my reservations when I first enrolled him in his preschool. I wasn't sure how he would do in a setting where I, Husband or my Mom weren't involved in being his primary caregiver. I wasn't sure how he would do around other kids either.

A few years back in our playgroup Bear was picked on and seemed to be singled out by one particular boy. He would charge at Bear and knock him down. He once put him in a headlock and tossed him to the ground. It got to the point that if ANY child came near him Bear would put up his hand and say "No, No!" and run away. It was heartbreaking to see my little boy so afraid of other children. So I told myself that if he wasn't ready, we wouldn't go and we'd only be out the $30 enrollment fee.

When September came and he seemed ready, I told myself that if he didn't like preschool then we'd just be out the September fees, and would find other things to do on the days that he went to school. I didn't even have to come close to making a decision like that because he loved school so much.

He has made friends, and plenty of them. The kids he is drawn to are wonderful, and all the kids love him too. Its sweet to see him doted on by a sweet little blonde girl who always insists on wearing dresses. He rough plays with her older brother. His best buddy is a shy, quiet little guy until you get to know him. Once he warms up to you, he is the sweetest little man! There is a little girl that is as cute as a button that he absolutely adores - and wants to have over for a bounce on the bouncy castle. He's only 4 and he's bringing girls home! Lord help us when he's a teenager.

He's definitely won a place in the hearts of those kids with his sense humour. He is such a ham. One day he came home with a really stiff chunk of hair. It was like he took a handful of gel and slopped it through his shaggy blonde hair. I asked him what he had been into, fearing in was glue or something crazy like that. He proudly told me "I wanted to make Hannah laugh, so I put yogurt in my hair!" I was not surprised in the least.

I'm going to miss seeing him in his puppy slippers, running around the preschool playroom. I'm going to miss the random pieces of art that I don't have the heart to throw away or recycle. I'm going to miss his stories of who did what, and so and so said this or that and it was really funny - you know the type of humour that only a preschooler appreciates?

Our first year of preschool was a success. I am so, so happy that it worked so well for my Bear. Next year I'll be in worse shape though. At least we have one more year til we venture in to kindergarten territory.