A Child's Garden

Today was Kate's first day at her new preschool, A Child's Garden. Kate had so much fun on Visiting Day that we were hopeful she would adjust easily. If we hadn't gone through the whole separation/school process in January, I would have been a complete wreck this morning. But both Kate and I were very calm and mature. Kate even said, "I'm so excited." As soon as Kate entered the cheerful classroom, she was greeted warmly by one of her teachers, Ms. Carrie, and then later by her other teacher, Ms. Mary, who complimented Kate on her shoes. "They're new!" When Chris handed Ms. Mary a stack of mini-cheese sandwiches for the kids for snack time, Kate said, "It's Laughing Cow cheese!" And when Ms. Mary replied, "I love Laughing Cow cheese," Kate lit up. Then Ms. Mary asked Kate if she'd like to glue something (Kate's favorite thing in the whole wide world), and Kate said, "Yes!" then left Chris and zoomed towards the gluing table. "I'm going to make you a picture, Appa! Bye!" Chris said goodbye, and that was that. No clinging, no tears. Our girl is all grown up! Sniff, sniff... When we came to pick Kate up a few hours later, we didn't see her. Then from a distance, we saw a child zipping down the path towards us on a scooter -- Kate! Usually when I picked her up from her last school she'd run screaming towards me as if I were springing her from prison, but this time, all I got was a casual smile, and a "Hi!" Kate's teachers gave us glowing reports about Kate's first day. Not surprisingly, the first thing she did was check out all three book stations in the room and look through the books. Ms. Carrie said she was impressed by how "independent and on top of things" Kate is, and said she's already emerged as the leader in the class. What a difference nine months makes. Maybe we'll enroll her in college courses next month.

These are pictures we took when we visited the school in the summer with Nana...

The school is part of an Episcopalian Church, founded in the 1800's. It's so beautiful and peaceful there, maybe we'll become Episcopalians. Just kidding, Mom! Maybe.