Baby Steps

    Today was my baby boy’s first day of Pre-Kindergarten.  He looked so big and handsome in his new school uniform and I felt like the proud Mommy as his father and I escorted him to class for orientation.  I have to admit, I was a little afraid that he was going to cling to me because he is definitely a Momma’s Boy and likes to be with me every waking moment.  Maybe that is just something that we mothers convince ourselves of because we can’t bear the thought that our children will ever stop needing us for everything.

    The teacher stood in the doorway to the classroom greeting every child individually and asking them their names.  As we entered the classroom, the children were encouraged to interact with one another by playing with different types of puzzles that were on top of all the tables.  My son immediately left my side to go play with the other children.  So much for the theory that he would not want to leave me…

    Most of the children became immediately engaged in playing with the puzzles so the teacher took the opportunity to usher the parents into an adjoining classroom in order to go over classroom procedures.  We had to stand for almost an hour as she went over everything from sending a change of clothes for each child to curriculum practices.  Yes, I said stand, apparently, the only detail that the school failed to pay attention to was the fact that the parents and grandparents of 20 children might need seats to sit in while they listen to an hour’s worth of Pre-K mumbo jumbo.

    As we listened attentively to the teacher, the two aides, who were minding the children, kept interrupting to reunite crying children with their parents.  As most of you know, children sometimes experience separation anxiety when they first attend school and have to get used to new surroundings.  It was very cute and tender to see all of the weepy faces that were immediately soothed by the sight of their mommys and daddys.  The teacher was not put off by any of this and, it was quite obvious, that she is very patient, qualified, and well versed in how to deal with early childhood issues and children.

    Unfortunately, or fortunately, my sweet boy never came through the door crying.  He took to his new environment and surroundings like a fish takes to water.  I guess this means that I did a really good job of making him feel confident enough to venture into the world without me.  Okay, I might be exaggerating a little bit but, those of you who have kids, know exactly what I am talking about.  How did I go from hearing, “I want to be with Mommy”, to hearing, “bye, Mommy?”

    I’m sure my baby still needs me and will probably always need me in his life to some degree.  However, there is nothing like letting go of your child’s hand and sending him out into the world.  It is really a scary feeling because your instinct, as a parent, is to take your wings and wrap them around your babies as tightly as possible to shield them from a cruel world.  The problem is that, if you go with your gut, and keep those wings wrapped as tightly as you can, you also shield them from all the beautiful and wonderful things that life has to offer.  So you see, dear friends, herein lies the dilemma, you have to let them experience the bad in order for them to experience the good.  They are not mutually exclusive and one cannot exist without the other.  We are aware of this, as parents, as we also take baby steps beside our children through every experience that we share with them…

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