Preschool

I am almost embarrassed to admit how much time I've thought about preschool in the last year and a half.  First it was trying to pick a place that would work for Leo then hoping that I made the right choice because you have to register a full eight months in advance.  And then it was sending off my nearly four year old two days a week (which most parents here send them at nearly three, a year younger than Leo) and hoping it was the right place.  Being a first time parent is stressful. 


Our life experience out here is so different than the way that I grew up.  Back home, we all went to Karma's Kiddie Korner.  The teacher taught a sweet little class out of her basement, just a few doors down from my own.  I have good memories being in the class.  That is not how things are done here.  Preschools are large, formal affairs with curriculums and parent teacher conferences. 

I've seen preschools that immerse your child in another language, that promise to have them reading at 3 or other crazy things.  It's not really the experience I wanted for Leo.  Really, I wanted him to have a place to go and play and to explore the world.  

I remember walking into the preschool and thinking "where is all the art work?"  Because, that is what I thought a preschool was, kids doing the same art project and then hanging them on the wall.  Thinking back on that, I have to laugh at myself.  This is one of the things I like best about his school, they leave their projects open ended and letting the children have more control over what they create.

The highlight has been his teachers.  Mrs. Lundgren has taught there for 30 years and made the transition easier for this nervous first year parent.

Leo's was the only one with color.

 

 Last week we went to his class' open house.  He got to show us all of the zones in the room and to show all of his favorite things.  All around the room, his artwork was on the wall.  It just made my heart burst to see his line drawings.  Thinking back on how far we've come is astounding.  Leo has grown up this year and we're so proud of him.