Today was Mia's first day of pre-school.
It could not have gone more perfectly.
Mia has been anxiously awaiting this day for months. She has told countless dozens of friends and strangers about "my school." Every time we passed her school, Mia would point and say "that's my school." We have been preparing for this day for quite some time. We role played our goodbyes, we role played our pick ups, we role played making friends and sharing toys. We practiced "My name is Mia" over and over again. We have worked on letters and identifying her written name for months. And then today came...
Mia awoke with a smile on her face and was all ready to get the day started. She knew today was her big day. We had breakfast, brushed teeth, got dressed, and made beds. I was busy making sure all four were doing each of those things in addition to starting laundry, making lunches, cleaning up the kitchen and getting myself ready. We had just enough time to squeeze in a few pictures before I sent the boys off {walking} to school around 8:10am and then loaded the girls into the car
by 8:15am.Chloe was first for drop off at 8:30am. She gave her usual squeezes to Mia with an extra special smile today. Chloe had been hoping to be taken to school second and was disappointed to miss Mia's first drop off, but she rolled with it well. Before she headed into school, she stopped and told Mia to have fun and be kind.
{great big sister advice}
We piled back into the car and arrived at Mia's school for an 8:45am start. When we arrived, Mia was ready to go. We stopped and prayed and then ventured inside. I helped Mia find her spot to hang her coat and backpack and within a minute, her teacher came out and said, "It's time for school." Mia and I walked into the classroom behind two other children and their parents. As we walked in, we stopped at the table where Mia was supposed to find the button with her name on it. I explained to her what she needed to do and Mia proceeded to pick her button right up (out 15 buttons!) and put it in the basket. I could not believe it. We shared a quick little hug and kiss and Mia headed right in without looking back. [wow.]
I knew I had better not linger, so I smiled and told the teachers that I would remain in the building for a while and be very accessible if needed for the morning. After I left the classroom, I stood in the hallway stunned for a minute. It went so well. No tears. No fits. No peeling her off of me. {all of which we have seen before} Thank you Jesus.
She was ready.
She was excited.
So was I.
When I returned at 11:30, Mia ran to me with a smile as she came out the door. Her teachers told me that she did a great job. They said it was as if she had been there all year. She followed the routines. She listened. She played. And she was happy. What answered prayers.
Thank you Jesus.
And that precious little girl beamed the entire way home.
