When we arrived at Dash's preschool this morning, I was carrying his backpack. He stopped just inside and said, "Mama, put my backpack on me." He walked down the hall to his classroom door, clasped his hands in front, and stood and waited, staring at the door, willing it to open. I stood several feet away. Two of the five kids-in-arms were crying. Three moms and one dad were wiping tears. Dash, he stood there, away from me, watching, waiting. When the teacher opened the door for the kids to enter, I bent down and kissed his little head, reminding him that I'll return. He honored me with a quick wave and "bye-bye," and I watched as he stuffed his backpack into the right cubby, greeted the teacher with a hearty "Good morning!" followed by a "Can I play here?" while pointing to the pegboards on the table... and that was that.
I raced off to Dunkin' Donuts for an iced coffee, something that I actually don't like at all... but it was almost 90 degrees with 100% humidity at 9:00 this morning, and I needed caffeine, sugar, and a taste of freedom. (I'm wheat-free, so I washed down a Luna bar with it... just not the same as a jelly stick. Sigh.) At home, I finally unpacked my own stuff from Vermont.
At pick-up, the teacher indicated that he was fine, never tearful but almost tearful when told that the toys needed to sleep for storytime and he needed to sit and listen. That was the only time he asked for me. When the teacher told him I'll be there to pick him up later, he informed her that I'd be back after I'd gone to the market to buy ham and cheese for his dinner. Considering that he eats neither ham nor cheese (nor dinner, usually!), I find this particularly funny.
En route to the car, he reported, "The toys sleep during story time. I don't like sleeping toys." He went on to add, "I don't like apples, too. I ate Cheerios." Seriously, that's a more detailed school report than I get from my second grader!
The rest of the day belonged to little Dash, who rallied on despite obvious exhaustion from the whole seventy-five minute ordeal. We went to the playground. We went shopping (his request) and to McDonald's (where he ate all of three fries dipped in caramel sauce). Then, on the way home, he asked "Can we go to Rita's Water Ice? Please, please, please?" He ate 3/4 of a cherry/vanilla gelati. Watching him scarf it down, the owner came out and handed him a stuffed water ice guy, noting "I've never seen a 2 year old who loves Rita's so much." So we'll be there for dinner tomorrow night, too.
This kid, he often tries my patience to its outer limits. He does not believe in sleep. He worries me to death with his lack of eating habits. He is kinetic, and I am always very, very tired. But then, there are days like today when I could just burst with happiness because his performance exceeds expectations. I'm looking forward to Day 2 on Wednesday, and I think that little Dash is, too.
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