We have been having a rough couple of weeks. Finnegan started pre-school, and Finnegan is having a tough time adjusting. He starts to get excited to go and as soon as we pull into the parking lot he says “NO!” When we went for his first day, where the parents stay, he hid under the chair. As adorable as he looked, I was a little frightened and upset. I want him to love school!
For his first day of school without mom and dad there, he cried for all but the last 45 minutes. Full meltdown. My heart ached. I don’t get it. He has friends he knows in his class, and the teacher’s aide is a friend of ours. He just wanted his mommy. Who can blame him…I’m pretty awesome.
Day two. I figured he would do a little better. Not really. I had to coax him out of the car, through the parking, into the room, and onto the carpet. I had to sit there for 15 minutes while he lightly sobbed, arms crossed, and his head down. He looked so sad. I finally had to muster up the courage to get up and leave. I promised daddy would pick him up. I jetted across the parking lot trying to hold back the tears. Poor little guy.
I wanted to find a book about starting school. Not one we already had. Something new for the bookshelf that really got the message across that I understand he misses mommy and daddy, and it’s okay to miss us, but it’s okay to have fun too. In come Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. We don’t have any of the Llama books. What a PERFECT find. Poor Llama Llama is so upset that Llama Mama leaves him in a new school, with a new teacher, and new classmates. He doesn’t want to participate. He feels all alone. He’s sad. He is leery about taking part in all of the fun. When Llama’s teacher and friends explain to him again that it’s okay and Llama Mama is going to come back and it is okay to have fun while we wait for Mama he finally lets down the barrier and enjoys school. He of course is thrilled when Llama Mama comes back. Little Llama Llama realizes that school is fun and Mama is ALWAYS going to come back. This story fits my Finnegan to a T. So much so that he got upset when I started reading it the first time. He actually yelled “no” and then covered his ears and ran away. I tried again tonight at bedtime, and he stood away from his brothers and I for the first few pages…then the curiosity got to him and he finished the story with us.
I know he’ll adjust eventually. They all do, don’t they?
Aw poor guy! Those first few days can be hard and I am sure he WILL adjust eventually? They all do 😉
We love the Llama books and another that is called The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Not sure if you have read that one but it has a cute little story and you can do a little art project with it too. Hang in there mama – I know these can be hard times!
Thanks. He pulled the same thing on my husband this morning. All excited and clammed up when they reached the parking lot. Hopefully he adjusts sooner rather than later. Awe, the Kissing Hand. They read that one the first couple of weeks of pre-school.
Awwwwww it is heart breaking when they don’t want to let go! Zac has always gone right in and gotten right to business LOL in a way it’s awsome because then I feel ok leaving but a part of me wants him to run to me and say mama….. oh mommy heart strings. Hope the transition gets easier for you!
My other two boys were like that Tera. He’s just his own little person. I was a teeny bit let down when my other guys just bolted after a quick “half-hug”
Sometimes it’s harder for the parent than the child when they don’t want to be in school. It is heartbreaking and fills us with guilt. Hope he adjusts soon. 🙂