Alexander's Preschool Orienation

How is my baby boy old enough to go to preschool next year? I have no idea where the time has gone but it is a fact that he is old enough, he is ready and he does love the place so I am sure that he is going to thrive there. 

On 12th November, Alexander, Daddy and I headed into preschool for Alexander to have his orientation lunch where he got to meet his teachers, see his classroom and meeting some other kids in his class. He was so excited! We bought him a new hat to wear at preschool so he was super keen to have it on today!

When we arrived he met Alison, Lorraine and Laudie (his teachers for next year). It is so lovely that he has the same teachers that Daniel had in his first year at preschool. When Alexander was born he was actually bathed in Daniel's preschool class with the same 3 teachers so it's lovely that they have actually seen him grow up too. 

He found the magnetic blocks and was busy straight away. He made some rockets and then followed the pattern to make the man.

Concentration tongue

He then saw the paint and was so keen to do a painting.

(I forgot my camera so I used James' phone until he had to head back to work). 

After finishing his painting he then played with some playdough, hiding snow animals in the white playdough and trying to make the penguins balance on the mountains. 

We then had lunch inside (because it was a very smokey day so not very nice to be outside). Alexander sat on the mat for most of it and ate most of his lunch. I spoke with a couple of parents who were sitting next to us but mainly to Alexander. After lunch it was time to head home but first he was desperate to go outside and have a quick play. Smokey day? What smokey day? He went straight to the tyre that was outside and enjoyed rolling it up the hill and then pushing it back down. And then he did the same thing with the hoops. 

When in the car I asked him what he is most looking forward to doing at preschool. He told me that it is playing with the tyres. No surprise there. I have told Jill that they aren't allowed to get rid of the tyres any time soon :-)

A few days later Alexander told me that he doesn't want to go to preschool. This really did surprise me! I normally have to drag him out of preschool because he is having so much fun and doesn't want to leave. When I asked him why not he told me that it's because he doesn't want to be there without me. Very sweet but very unexpected! I will see how he goes and have mentioned it to his teachers but I'm sure that even if there are a few tears in the day, he will be absolutely fine and love it there.

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My dearest Alexander,
How are you big enough for preschool?? It feels just like yesterday that I bathed you in the very same preschool classroom with the same preschool teachers. I am going to miss having my little buddy with me on Monday and Tuesdays and I am going to be thinking of you while you are at preschool but I know that you are going to love it there! You are so very ready to be there. You are going to learn so much, you are going to be able to grow so much, you can ask questions and investigate the answers. 

My sweet boy, it is ok to feel nervous. It is ok to be worried about what preschool will look like for you without Mummy there. It is ok because these things are unknown. It can be scary to meet new people, it can be scary to not have Mum or Dad with you in the day, but I know that you are going to make some beautiful friendships like Eliza and Daniel have done in the years before and I know that Alison, Lorraine and Laudie are beautiful teachers who will adore having you in their class and will look after you during the day and help you when you need it. To be honest with you, I'm nervous about making new parent friends (I don't know people in your class this year) but we will do this together.

Alexander, I can't wait to see what you are going to learn, what amazing paintings (yes you can paint every day if you want!) you are going to make and what craft creations you are going to create. I can't wait to hear about the games that you play, the drawings you make, the imaginative play that you will do. You are just going to thrive and I am so excited to be able to watch this next year for you.

Be brave, don't worry and I love you and am proud of you.
Love Mummy.