Wasn’t He Just Born?

I can hardly believe that today we had Ryan’s orientation for the first ever pre-school/enrichment program that he will attend on Tuesday’s.  Where has the time gone?

We decided that Ryan wasn’t quite ready for a “full blown” several times a week preschool yet, so we decided on a program that frankly, just seems perfect for him.

It is on a farm just up the hill from Joe’s parent’s house.  There are horses, chickens, goats, lambs, and I am sure other animals that I am forgetting.  There is a tree house / fort, swings, sandbox, toys, and bikes. The kids are outside everyday unless the weather is just horrible.  There are eight kids in his group and a teacher, and a teacher’s assistant.  They will have some “formal” learning sessions, but in general, being outside is their classroom.

We got to go for an hour today to meet Ryan’s teachers, and just get him used to the place.  Unfortunately, when we got there, the director/owner told us his teachers were not able to make it today, but we got Ryan acquainted with the grounds, and he absolutely loved it.  He didn’t want to go home.  He has been a little nervous talking about going to school, but now that he has seen where he gets to go, he keeps asking when it will be Tuesday. I was joking with him and said maybe I could come too, and he told me, “No, you need to find your own school.” 

He will be going from 9:30-12, and he gets to bring a lunch.  He is excited about his new lunchbox.  He also had to make sure that Cole wasn’t coming with him.  I think Cole would like to enroll as well.  He was in heaven there today, following Ryan around, and he actually got up all these steps to the tree fort. 

 I was reading the director’s welcoming letter, where she was explaining some more about the program, and I love her philosophy when she says,

     “…I loved being outside with a group of children- spontaneous, creative play.  I loved the fact that there was no agenda, no structure…just exploring, smelling, touching.  The air, the sky, huge trees, birds.  I loved not teaching.  I loved that everything was already there-in nature.  The kids seemed more free, more alive.   I remember this huge realization: life does not get any better than this.  It was truly that simple.”

So my ‘baby’ is off to school in a few days.  It seems like he was just born.  While I am a bit sad he is growing up so fast, I am also very excited for him to start to branch out on his own, and start to explore, and find his world away from me. 

It seems as a mother, that is your ultimate job- to prepare your child for life away from you one day.  At least for now, he is only away for a few hours.  Wonder how I’ll feel when he is leaving for college?