Penelope's (and Mama's) BIG DAY!

PP WENT TO HER FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TODAY!

We have been preparing her for this day for a couple weeks by showing pictures of her teachers and talking about going on buses and playing with new people, whether that made a difference I have no idea. I think I was doing it for myself as well, because I needed a bit of coddling to feel comfortable with this new transition.

I mean, really, I put my two (almost three) year old on a bus with people whom we have never met to go to a school she's been to twice. That's freaking banana crazy. There's a bunch of reasons to run the other way screaming 'YOU PEOPLE ARE NUTS! I AM KEEPING MY BABY!', but those are completely my own silly reasons.

I needed to take a step back and remind myself that although this method of schooling doesn't fit for most kids, my girl has special needs. If it weren't for the Early Intervention program, little PP wouldn't be as successful as she is today. PP started using Early Intervention services when she was a month old! So technically, she's been in 'school' since she was a very tiny baby. Through the years I have seen the school system provide amazing opportunities for PP, so when the time came to make a decision about preschool it seemed only natural that she keep moving forward! The key aspect of school is to keep challenging a child so they have no option but to be the best little person they can be! The multitude of surprises along the way are thrilling.

I was very pleasantly surprised with how PP handled this brand new experience. She is so ready to learn and try new things. She showed her Mama today that worrying is for cuckoos because she didn't cry when I got off the bus after buckling her in to the seat and her teachers wrote really wonderful things about her in the parent/teacher communication book. She colored in a picture of a turkey for goodness sake! She hardly colors at home with me. I can already see that she is using her signs a little more purposefully, and she seems to have forgotten all about her sprained ankle! School is really, REALLY cool!

I feel like I've definitely earned a little break every day, but I surely won't let the time go to waste. Today I used my time wisely, gathering the things I need to celebrate PP's third birthday on Sunday with a whole bunch of family and friends! What the rest of the school days will entail for me, I'm not sure, but I have some really delightful ideas in mind. Next week my schedule is open almost every day! FINALLY! It feels so fuzzy and sweet when hard work pays off!

Positive vibes and big smiles TO ALL OF MY LOVELY READERS!
XoX

PS- I will stick some adorable photos up as soon as I can, but silly frizzy Mama Lace borrowed GG's camera and forgot to get the sync cord from her! D'OH!