Littlest Mouse Starts a New School

Little Mouse finding his way

First Day of School Cuddles

Calling in the Reinforcements

Turns out her name is Mrs. Collins!!!

​When our oldest started preschool at the age of 3, the search for the “right” preschool was akin to the diligence some put in to finding a mate.  Dropping off Lillie Grace that first day, I fought back tears, lingered at their “observation window”, and then went calmed my nerves with a Mimosa or four…
 
Seven years and a few grey hairs later, we selected a new preschool we felt most at home with...which also happens to have a strong emotional intelligence program, won the National Blue Ribbon Award, and has been recognized for excellence by the Department of Education (well before our current administration).  Even so, in the time of COVID, there are a lot of unknowns…
 
And unknowns and change are scary, whether you’re four or…significantly past four.  So this morning, when my child wanted to stay home with the dog, I may or may not have gotten him dressed by bribing him with candy for breakfast if he made it to the car in time.
 
Once in the car (while he is devouring the breakfast of Bravehearts, M&Ms) I’m trying to reassure him how much he’s going to love his new school.   “Your teacher is really kind,” I say. “What’s her name?” asks a wise sister.  “Oh.  Yeah. She wants to tell Tyler that herself,” I reply, because frankly, we’ve never even seen her. 
 
I try to get Ty excited about his classroom, except neither Jory nor I have seen his classroom either, because when we interviewed, they did not allow parents to tour.  So I remind him of the fish he liked in the reception area, and the bikes we watched him ride in the outside play area, and the swings the Admission Director pushed him on while we spied from her office. 
 
We arrive early, as one does when nervous.  When the office manager arrives, she lets us in. After temperatures are recorded, the principal takes Tyler back to his classroom, and his teacher, a kind woman whose name is Mrs. Collins, sits with us in the admissions office while her other students take their temps and sign in with the Assistant Teacher.  We tell Mrs. Collins about Tyler and she reassures us of the quality of the program (because in my deepest darkest fears he’s lingering in a corner of a room I’ve never seen, with people he’s never seen, friendless, disoriented and scared.) 
 
She tells us that she talked about Tyler with the nine other students yesterday and they are so excited to have him join them. (Ty had sat in on a class reading of The Gruffalo when he toured with the Admissions Director).  I remember that The Gruffalo is a story about a little mouse who overcomes, practically befriends, his fears, earning the respect of everyone in the forest.  
 
I take a deep breath, realizing that my Littlest Mouse is going to thrive in this beautiful school, and as a parent, so am I.
Jory and the girls and I then go out to celebrate with donuts.