Good morning! 

Here to report that, just as I suspected, this kid was exhausted after school. Also, he is still sleeping right now. 

What I was *not* expecting was just how easy it was to drop him off yesterday.

All three of us were filled with all the emotions yesterday morning. I think Ankur was feeling the most. Mostly because he wasn’t able to join me to drop Ishu off. He’s been having to leave the house at 6:15 these days.

They said their goodbyes at home and I am pretty sure Ankur was trying REAL HARD to hold back tears.

After we said our goodbyes to Ankur, we sat at the kitchen table, and I said, “How do you feel about school, Ishu?”

He responded, “Ishu will cry, and Mama will cry too.” 

And, just like that, right on command, Mama did cry.

“Mama might cry and Ishu might cry. It’s going to be hard and we will miss each other. But Mama will come get Ishu after school is over.”

He climbed onto my lap and, I don’t know whether it was 1) not knowing how to deal with my tears or 2) being a toddler and easily distracted, but he took a tiny little ball and put it in his hand and lifted up both hands, “WHICH HAND MAMA?”

His new favorite game. 

Anyway, seeing how all that went in the morning, I was really anticipating that drop-off would be a little bit more challenging.

But, once we got there, he took his backpack off, hung it on the hook with his sweatshirt, swapped his outside shoes for his inside shoes, and then walked in and didn’t look back.

(Turns out he didn’t hear me saying bye to him 5 times and had a tough time when he realized I had left, whoops). 

But his teacher reported that he adjusted well after that. She wrote, “He was very interested in all the materials and did things like handwashing and flower arranging. He rode the tricycle, built with blocks, and climbed the ladder.”

But the thing that impressed me the most? 

1) He napped.

2) HE NAPPED WITHOUT THE PACIFIER.

Would it be weird to ask his teacher if she would come on over to the house and teach me her tricks? 

I mean, I knew that things might be a little easier in a school setting where he can follow others’ examples. But, man, I didn’t realize it’d happen on the first day.

Needless to say, the first day of school was a success.

I know today or tomorrow or next Monday may be hard. When things start to sink in and all the materials aren’t as new and exciting.

But, overall, yesterday went so much better than last year when we attempted to put him in daycare. It really felt like we made the right move. Both times. Pulling him out when we didn’t feel it was the right fit. And then placing him back in (a new place!) when we knew he was ready.

Thank you to everyone who checked in, who has helped us navigate this transition, and for all the love you give our little family. It has helped us get to where we are today and we are forever grateful.