Goodbye Preschool…

This is my first child’s last week in preschool and I am not okay. 🥹 She was just under 3 years old when she started attending her current preschool last summer.

She was still my little chunk, I could barely put her hair into a ponytail, potty training wasn’t working, and she wasn’t talking much. I still saw her as just a baby and wondered how we were going to meet all of these “milestones” that just weren’t seeming to click…I was most worried about her slow speech progression. A year later, I’m staring at this tall four year old who rocks her side pony, potties like the best of ‘em, and won’t stop talking. (As a matter of fact, she loves to talk back and tell us we’re wrong, haha. Working on that!) After a lot of prayer and consistency everything fell into place and my sweet girl went from playing developmental catch up to being right where she should be. Her preschool and the dedication of the great staff there (especially my daughter’s favorite teacher!) hold a special place in my heart!

Originally, I was so excited for her to start a new adventure and head to PreK, but as I confirmed with her preschool that this would be her last week with them, it really hit me that this big change is happening, and instead of being excited I just started to feel sad. She’s progressed so much where she is now, has friends and teachers we both love, and a routine she enjoys, and I’m about to take her away from all of that to start somewhere new – a big somewhere new where she won’t know anyone and won’t have the same favorite little things about where she is now. ☹️ How do parents do this year after year?! How am I going to do this with 2 more babies?!

Then, as I was crying while looking through all of her pictures yesterday and wondering how we got here so fast, I was told her usual preschool class had too many students per teacher so she was moved to their PreK-aged class. Since it was new (and historically, she has not taken well to moving to a new class at school) I checked the class cameras multiple times throughout the day to make sure she was okay in this different setting (I’m going to miss being able to do that too! Whyyyy do they have to grow up?!! Ah, because we’d literally go insane raising forever-toddlers…not quite as sad when you think about it that way. 😅) Each time I checked on her she had a big smile on her face and was enjoying herself. I’ve been worried sick all week, but in this little practice run of starting something new she was just fine. (We celebrated how well she transitioned with gummy bears after dinner.)

I know switching from preschool to PreK at an elementary school will be a much bigger transition, but seeing how well she did during today’s little practice run of something new reminded me that this is a part of life and that even if it’s a little scary at first my baby girl, now my big girl will be just fine. As she continues to grow I have to trust that God will hold her hand when I cannot, and that she will thrive no matter where she is! Amazing things are in store for the journey ahead of her, and it’s time for me to cheer her on as she takes her 1st steps. 🥲

Cannot believe I’m already at this point with my first baby…mommy loves you my beautiful, sassy, sweet Anna Bear!