It’s official, both of my babies are in school!  My good friend Camille clued me in to the concept of “Co Op” preschools here in Indy: fully accredited (even NAEYC…don’t get me started on what these poor schools go through to get NAEYC accreditation) preschools with parents working alongside the teachers.  They have a little class for the 2 year olds, which is about the cutest little room and set of kids I’ve ever seen.  I’ll be volunteering in Kelly’s class approximately every 3 weeks.  She has school every Tuesday for 2 hours, which she will now be begging to attend every day for the next 6 days.

We’ve had “Get to Know Your Teacher Day”, but TODAY…today was the day Daddy and I gave her a hug and LEFT.  Let me tell you now, I can run across the country and back with 2 free hours.  I can wash, iron and put away 1000 loads of laundry with 2 free hours.  Ask any Stay At Home Mother what she’d do with 2 free hours….those lists will be very, very long.  But today, my first day, I had a coffee date with my husband.  I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning.

Kelly all but waved us off.  She feigned about one half of a second of sorrow, failed to muster even a single tear, grabbed her teacher’s hand and walked off.  My kids are different.  So, so different.  I picked up one happy, overflowing with joy, little Kelly.  I think the emotion she experienced today was PRIDE.  Last week on visitation morning she grabbed her backpack, walked into Sara’s classroom at morning drop-off and announced to Sara’s team of teachers she was reporting for SCHOOL.  Um sweetheart, right day, wrong school.  Hang with Mommy Sweetie, we’re headed to your school next…(my life is about driving, and then the driving, followed by more driving while driving).

She equates “school” with “backpack” and “things my sister gets to do, but I don’t”.  If there is one thing she talks about consistently, it’s taking that backpack and going to school.  She was so obsessed with Sara’s backpack last year that Santa brought her one of her own.  Apparently, there was a lot of talk at school about Kelly’s backpack; and by a lot of talk, I mean that Kelly spent 2 hours talking about her backpack, LOUDLY, I’m sure.  I can just hear her little thoughts, “Um, excuse me?  New friends?  Did you see my backpack?  Yeah, that’s a ladybug and my NAME.  Right here.  Kelly.  As in KELLY BELLY.  Because you see, here’s the thing: I’m at SCHOOL.  REAL SCHOOL.  And that red backpack?  That makes it OFFICIAL.  Meet me at the play dough table, we’ve got work to do.”  What came out of her mouth sounded more like, “Backpack!  Kelly Backpack!  I Backpack!  My BACKPACK!  IT RED!  WADYBUG KELLY BACKPACK!”

Isn’t this a wild part of parenthood?  Parenting to each child and meeting them where they are?  I would never dream of voluntarily putting Sara in a preschool at 2.  Despite being in the world’s greatest daycare (we called it Disney World) with teachers who genuinely loved and cared for both girls, Sara never warmed to it like Kelly did.  By the time Sara was 2 and a half, I had put in my request for a 3 year Family Leave.  But Kelly?  Finding a preschool for her was a dream.  She longs for social settings and a chance to interact with her peers.  She longs for a little independence.  I joke she’s still mad at me for taking her out of daycare.  Watching them blossom is such a gift…I feel like I’m walking in a happy cloud tonight.  That might be the Nyquil…I know 2 school girls who are bringing me GERMS in their backpacks.