Friday, September 4, 2009

We Survived!

Ella Grace and I survived the first week of Mother's Day Out! On Tuesday I was sitting with her going through how our morning would work the next day, how she would take her backpack and lunch box with her, how she would put them in her cubby, and how she wouldn't cry. Then, she says to me, "And you won't cry." Ha! I told her that was right, neither one of us would cry. Well, that was WRONG!


My sweet girl on Day 1 of Mother's Day Out

She loves her mermaid backpack. She is very into The Little Mermaid and Flounder right now, so I thought this was perfect.

When we got there, she immediately picked out a baby and got back in the boat (just like at open house). She was doing great, smiling and so happy to be there. I wasn't going to make a big deal about me leaving. I went to the door and she came running with tears, "Momma, no!" Oh, it broke my heart. I told her I would be back really soon. I went to sign her in and by the time I had done that (which took all of one minute), she had already stopped crying. I, on the other hand, had just started! I did at least wait until I got to the car. =(

Hmmm. Which baby needs some love this morning?

Before the tears.


This is the "How could you?" look I got when I went to pick her up.

The next day she seemed excited. She said she wouldn't cry and reminded me of that even that morning. Well, it was another difficult drop-off. Please tell me it will get better. It really hurts my heart! I'm trying to stay busy during the day so I don't think about it too much, but I find myself watching the clock. She and I are so happy to see each other when I pick her up. The first day she asked me, "Did you miss me so much?" I told her I did and she said, "I missed you, too." Ahhhh, heart overflow!



Day 2's excitement was mainly about her new shoes. I gave them to her that morning knowing she would be excited about them, and they might help with the transition. She was SO excited and said, "I want to show Daddy!" As she was walking out of the room, she yelled back, "Thank you, Momma!" It is just the sweetest to hear that when it is unprompted! LOVE it!

Please, please tell this gets easier. My heart can't take it!

17 comments:

julie & joe said...

It gets easier, it really does! I hate it when Aaron looks sad when I leave him at preschool. I love it that we get to stay home together on Fridays!

Beth said...

I does get easier. I promise. Could she be any cutier?! Love her cute little shoes :)

His Doorkeeper said...

Leigh Ann, She is the cutest thing in her little MDO clothes and backpack! Treasure this time and remember how special it is!! She is so sweet and has the sweeetest MOM too!

Betsy said...

Girl...I feel your pain! Only mine is from dropping off my college babies! :(

It WILL get easier! That's the good news. And she looks so precious! I love her sweet little shoes!

Kelley said...

Oh My Word! She is the cutest thing. Her backpack and lunch box are so precious. It is so hard to leave them. The start of every school year (pre-school that is) has been a little difficult. More so for me, than Mary-Kate. MK has been fine, but I am the one crying. It will get a little easier, yet I still don't like it. AT ALL.

Brooke said...

Hunter has the same lunch box and back pack...of course with a boy design. Even though it's hard on you right now, it will be so good for her to be around other children and for you to get a little "me" time. I wish you both the best of luck!

Heather said...

I am so right there with you. We went to meet Connor's teacher today (he will start next week) and all of a sudden I am a WRECK! I just love him so much and love having him home with me!!!
EG is ADORABLE!!! Just precious!!!
Please--let's get school started and then meet for lunch, dinner, etc. I am dying for you to meet AK! (and squeeze her cheeks!-ha!)

Lauren said...

I hope it does. Dawson goes for the first time on Tuesday. We had his open house last night and he did really well, but I hope he does ok for the real deal. And I know I'm going to bawl like a baby.

In His Army said...

I think it will! You are doing a great job girl! She is just precious and I love what you said about "she and I are so happy to see each other" at the end of the day. I know exactly what you mean, even in kindergarten which J sees me in the line to pick her up I can't get to her fast enough we keep waving at each other and blowing kisses. EG is dressed like an absolute doll! I used to remind myself that it was good for them to have that interaction and have some time away from mom. I know it's hard, but hang in there! You're doing the right thing! :)

Karen At Home Blog said...

How precious, I can't imagine how you must have felt that day!!!!

Candy said...

ADORABLE!!! She looks SO big! I know it's hard leaving her though!

The Polk Family said...

I promise it will get easier. It's always a transition at first for mama and child. As much as I was ready for J to start MDO, it was still hard on both of us...even though I knew he needed that separation from me to be around peers and other adults. It took him about two weeks to get really used to MDO and LOVE being there. So, hang in there! :)

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

She is just so CUTE! Love that backpack!

Holly said...

How cute!!

The Pooles said...

Such sweet stories, Britton starts on Tuesday. I hope he does well, but I am nervous. Ella Grace looks too cute and she has grown up so much:)

Laura said...

OMGoodness! I had tears in my eyes just reading this post and remember my own "cutting the apron strings" about three weeks ago. Prek-4 was MUCH harder for me than Prek-3! But like you, I was able to hold it in until I got to the car and then I just lost it! But it has gotten better. I love Alise's teacher, so that helps so much!

Ella looks SO CUTE in her "school clothes" and backpack.

Jacquie said...

In a sense, it does get easier, but it never goes completely away, LA. Sorry. I still get a bit sad when Kale goes back to Fayetteville after a weekend at home...