The First Day of Preschool-What I Was ACTUALLY Thinking

Well it actually happened. I dropped my baby off at her first day of preschool and it went better than I expected.

A million thoughts have been going through my head as summer’s end neared. Thoughts about how the last 4 1/2 years of my life felt shorter than the blink of an eye. Thoughts about how I envisioned this day playing out. So I wrote a letter to my daughter, hopefully capturing some of the love and emotions I have about this day, and about her. And I also kept thinking about what we tell our kids as we send them to school, and what we are actually thinking to ourselves.

After I finished wiping my eyes and complaining to my best friend (who also sent her first baby to preschool this week) about how crazy our lives are now, I pulled myself together. And I thought I would share a few things that I said to my preschooler and what I was ACTUALLY thinking in my head as I sent her into that BIG school on her first day. Because maybe you need a little humor in your day too!

“Bye Sweetie, you’re going to have SO much fun!” (Please Lord let her have fun so we don’t have a melt-down four mornings of the week for the next nine months.)
“You’re going to meet so many nice friends!” (Because Lord help me if those kids are mean to my baby I will HURT them!)
“Remember, you met your teacher already and she is very kind!” (Oh my goodness I forgot to tell the teacher about our “kissing hand” ritual that we do so she can remind you of it if you get scared or lonely.)
“Don’t forget to use your manners!” (Please don’t act like you were raised in a barn. Remember how we discussed how to act in public? Please remember how to do that!)
“You’re so grown-up!” (No you’re not!! You’re still my 6lb 3oz tiny baby, my sweet girl, my snuggler, the girl who plays princesses and needs me to help brush her teeth.)
“Please remember to wash your hands! (OMG, the germs she is going to bring home with her!!! Better stock up on the Clorox wipes right now.)
“I am going to miss you every single second you are at school!” (I am going to miss you but might not actually notice that much of a difference at home given that I will still have your two-year old tornado of a brother.)
“Be nice to everyone.” (Even though not everyone will be nice to you, and in that case, see statement #2.)
“You’re going to learn so many new things.” (I feel like I did such an inadequate job preparing you for preschool!!! Oh my gosh maybe we should wait till next year!)
“I love you so much.” (I love you so much that my heart is literally both breaking with sadness that one chapter in our life has ended and a new one is beginning and also EXPLODING with love and pride that I–ME–I have raised you into the most beautiful, caring, spunky, smile-can-light-up-a-room, tender-hearted, smart, free-spirited girl I ever imagined. And you are MY daughter. And I love you and am SO excited to see everything you learn this year and the ways you will change and grow and the new friends you will make. And yes, still I will be a little sad at the little girl you are leaving behind, but look out world, because I am raising a strong woman and this is only the beginning.)

Do these thoughts sound familiar? I am willing to bet they do! I hope everyone had or has a wonderful first day, no matter what age your kids are and no matter if this is your first drop-off or your 10th!