First Day of Preschool

Ryan started preschool about a month ago and, unfortunately, he's struggling a little with the transition from the carefree, laid-back days of summer to the more scheduled school days as well as with the transition from the touchy-feely two- and three-year old program, to the more curriculum-based four-year-old program..  In particular, he's having a hard time adjusting to new teachers (he previously had the same teachers for the past two years), new classmates, new schedule (he now goes three days a week instead of two), and an increased emphasis on reading and writing (although he enjoys learning both of these skills, he'd obviously prefer to have more playtime as he did in years past).

For the past week or two, he's cried most school mornings, been unusually clingy, and repeatedly told us that he was going to miss us.  So now, before dropping him off, we kiss both of his hands and tell him that whenever he's feeling lonely or scared or sad he can put his hand to his cheek as a reminder that we love him and are thinking of him even when we aren't with him (an idea we got from the book, "The Kissing Hand," by Audrey Penn).  This past Friday was much better so we're hopeful that his attitude toward school is improving. 

I don't know which is worse, having to drop off a two-year-old who can't express his fears or communicate what happened while we were apart; or having to drop off a four-year-old who is crying, begging not to go, and saying he's worried we won't come back to pick him up.  I cannot imagine what his first day of kindergarden will be like.  I'm dreading the day I have to put my sweet, sensitive, precious little boy on the bus and trust that he'll be taken care of.  My eyes well up every time I think about it.  Mike may have to take off the entire first week of school to provide emotional support! 

Anyway, here are a few photos of his first day of school before he realized all of the changes that were in store.