Paul loves preschool. Loves it. From the first day, he runs in and says “bye” without hesitation. This is how it’s always been. He has never been sad for me to leave him (except for about a month when I started working at the library one day a week. I think he was sad then, though, not because he was with Daddy and not me but because I wasn’t taking him to the library too.). As for preschool, though, it’s just what he needs. He gets little friends to play with him, teachers who love him and encourage him, new toys to enjoy, craft activities and outside time. He still follows me around the house asking me to play games with him. But it’s okay because he knows he has preschool to look forward to the other days.

Preschool Day One

He saw me come in and ran over. “Mommy!”

“Hi honey!”

“I played with play dough!” He jumped up and down.

“How fun! What else did you do?”

“uhhhhhhh…..”

He couldn’t answer. Not a single other thing could he explain. I prompted him and asked the teacher and found he also had a snack and went outside and read a story. Now I know what general things they do so I can ask, but that first day was revealing. His two hours at preschool are unknowns to me because he won’t always be able to tell me what he did.

Preschool Day Two

In the car on the way home, I asked him about his new little friends.

“Is Nick your friend?”

“Yes.”

“Is Gracie your friend?”

“Yes.”

“Who else is your friend at preschool?”

“Jesus! He is my friend. He’s in every prayer.”

Awwwww. Paul goes to a Lutheran preschool and I’m glad to know they’ve already gotten the important bits in.

Imagination

Paul has an overactive imagination. There is nothing wrong with it, that is for sure. He has been enjoying the Richard Scarry books, and I found some “Busytown Mysteries” movies at the library to watch. He loves them and watches them over and over again. So much so that now Goldbug is his special imaginary friend.

“Mommy! Don’t clean that toilet! Goldbug is sitting there. He’s going pee and poop!”

“Mommy, Goldbug is hungry.”

“Goldbug is coming to church today, Mommy.” (“Is he going to sit reverently?” I asked. “Yes.” Later, Paul was squirming. I asked him to show Goldbug how to sit reverently and Paul immediately sat up and sat still.)

“Today is Goldbug’s birthday, Mommy. He’s a big boy! He’s six years old!”

“Goldbug is driving to preschool in his own car, Mommy. It’s right there [pointing out the window].”

“When we get to preschool, Paul and Goldbug need to wash their hands.” [They have to wash hands before they come in the room.]

Progress

On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy got tired of the Paul-goes-Poop-in-Pull-Ups game. I told him it was no longer acceptable to go poop in his pullups “because I was playing” or “because I was watching my movie” or “because I was too busy.” From now on we’re wearing underpants.

Monday and Tuesday were completely dry. Wednesday, two accidents. Thursday, one. We’re doing okay. He just needed that ultimatum, I guess. No more Pull-ups. They are too much like diapers, he doesn’t feel like stopping playing. He doesn’t like scrubbing out the underpants, though, so I think that is motivation… Plus the bribery toy when he finishes his potty chart.

In short, Paul is happy. He’s growing up quickly.