How Did You Deal with Your Baby Starting School?

I was very happy when all of my kids started school, I'm happy they are growing and learning and I am enjoying each new stage.

Oh...just WAIT until she gets to full day school! I had the hardest time with my youngest going for the whole day..still kind of do. I miss my little buddy!

Once she actually starts you are going to be fine. Its the lead up that is the hardest. But she will most likely love it and it will become part of your routine. For the other half of the day you guys can still do whatever you like. And actually preschool added such a nice structure to our world. It will also give you time to be with the baby also.

I was exactly the same way, my friends all started their kids in day school when they turned 2, and I waited until my kiddo was 3. Her school was in our church, and both of us were familiar with the buildings, the teachers and several of her classmates. Honestly, she was my little buddy and I knew I would be lonely without her for those few hours (only 2 days a week!). She LOVED school! And guess what, we were still little buddies. I agree that if she is resisting or if it would cause any sort of family financial burden, then it wouldn't hurt to hold off and wait another year. But, if your hesitation is based on YOUR feelings, please rethink your motives. My dgtr is 16 yrs old now and she is still friends with some of the kids she went to preschool with, as I am with their mothers. It was so great for her to begin her school career in a fun place, full of love and she entered kindergarten with that feeling of love and fully prepared for the experience. Nowadays, she isn't so excited about school..haha! But,I would not hesitate to make the same decision if I had it to do over again.
Good luck!

It IS harder on the mommies than the kids. Put yourself in auto-pilot mode. Talk it up--the fun, the friends, the SNACK! LOL Keep it positive and keep smiling, then go home and crumble into a limp pile of mush until you go to pick her up. Repeat as necessary. It gets better. Good luck!

I've done this twice; once with my daughter who is now 7 and also with my special needs son who is now 4. It was really hard with each of them to let go but once I saw how they thrived and enjoyed school it put my sadness and concerns away. It is going to be hard, it sometimes still is but enjoy the new stage in her life and take pride in knowing you've raised a little girl who can feel confident enough to go to school!

She will LOVE it! It will also give you some alone time with the new baby.. Perfect match.

Yes, it is hard to watch our children grow up, but when she comes home and tells you about her little friends and show you the picture she made, you will see she is loving it.. You will be so happy for her.

Just take a breath. Be excited for her and enjoy the new baby! Be sure to take o photo of her on the first day and see if you can get a photo of her with her Teacher the first week (not the first day).. The 2 of you can start a scrapbook together..

Preschool is not a requirement. If you don't want to send her, don't. Listen to your Mommie instinct. I know everyone else encouraged you to send her. I think she's little for a short time, enjoy it. I have a daughter who started Kindergarten when she was 5. If I had it to do over again I would wait until she was 6. She was the youngest in her class and didn't turn 6 until her birthday in June. She was more than ready when she started, knew her colors, shapes, letters, how to write her name, etc. You are perfectly capable of teaching her whatever she needs to know for Kindergarten. Just another perspective :)

Blessings!
L.

I think you should listen to your heart. There is a recent study (2010, and a huge study) out of England that concluded that children are leaving their mothers for institutional education too early. You can imagine the backlash to the study. It's the complete opposite of what we've been doing culturally and in education for the past 30-some-odd years. For so many moms, it's just not practical or realistic to keep their children home. That's why there's pre-school; to teach your child what you would normally teach her if you were able. Your child will learn SO much just by being with you. What a 3 year old needs most is her mom, and throwing in a few play dates is just icing on the cake.

When I put my oldest into pre-k, I dropped her off and almost ran some little kids over trying to run out of there so she would not see me cry (of course I did not really run them over, but I was in a hurry to get out!) I was pregnant with my 3rd, had just started working, and had my 18 month old with me also. But I went back early to peek in and she was having a BLAST!! This from a child who had never been away from family ever. So it made me okay with it. But I still take off of work the first day of every year, and probably always will. I want to be there to put my kids on and get them off of the bus, plus just reflect on the amazing things we have done. My kids are 7, 5, and 3 right now, so I have a lot of years to go, but wow. It's amazing and frigtening to watch them grow so fast!!

Preschool isnt too bad. Its still cute and innocent and they are still like babies. All day Kindergarten is the real deal! My daughters whole tiny life flashed before my eyes. When we left her in that kindergarten class the first day, I lost it! It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. At that exact moment, she wasnt my baby anymore and indeed her own person.
Use this preschool experience as a buffer. Its new, cute, fun and exciting. And cherish the time you still have with her.

Is your daughter going to kindergarten at 3? If that's the case, I would think she is probably too young. If she is going to preschool, then just remember that she needs to learn how to prepare for kindergarten, and these are her first steps. It is hard (I did it this year with my son), but I promise, you will get through!

It's hard sending your child off to school for the first time. However it is good for them to be around others and learn the ins and outs of being in a school setting. Visit the school once or twice so she is familiar with it and then just do it. Give her a hug and kiss and tell her you'll see her soon. Thenquickly leave. Go home and have a good cry. She'll be fine. My youngest starts preK next year and that is going to be tough for me,but it will be good for him. Good luck!!

Preschool was easy for me (and her)... Kinder on the other hand... I cried, but got easier because she loves it so much!

The first one is always the hardest. Preschool is certainly not a requirement (as Lori H. says) but believe me, you will do your daughter an injustice by not trying it. She will benefit hugely from it from both a social aspect and ultimately being prepared for Kindergarten. Three is a great age to start -- all of my children (all girls) were about 3 1/2 when they started. My youngest just started this past Fall and since I had been through it with my two older children I just knew it was the right thing to do. And she absolutely LOVES school (as did her older siblings)! That is really the clincher that makes it easier . . . if she really loves it then you'll be fine as well. Sure, you will miss her when she's at school but then there is the joy of picking her up and asking about what she did that day . . . it's a whole new experience of bonding. My youngest is so funny . . . when the weekend comes or there's a school break she wants to know why she isn't going to school! She loves her preschool friends and all the fun things they do together.

Just remember that there may be a week or two of adjustment time. I say "may" because my youngest completely surprised me with how easily she adapted to the whole new experience. She had been at home for the first 3 1/2 years of her life so I thought she would have some adjustment issues with being out of the home for the first time -- nope!

Your anxiety is normal, but don't let it rule you. Good luck!

You cry and cry and cry, but not in front of your daughter. I cried so hard, in the parking lot of my son's preschool, that I called my husband and he had to come calm me down as I could barely breath. :) Lucky he was only 2 min. away. I'm a stay at home mom so my son had never really been away from me. Still today he will say, "I'm going to miss you" and whimper when going to pre school, but when he gets there he is fine. He does have his moments, the teachers say, when he gets a little sad and they just tell him I will be there to pick him up when school is over. When I do pick him up he is so excited to show me what he has done. I honestly think it is harder on the parent than the child. I was pg, due in Nov. so it is nice to have him in school a few days a week so I can have some bonding time with my baby girl, and to get some rest and be able to nap when she naps.
Your daughter will be fine. My husband told me, "Let's just try it, nothing says you can't take him out if it isn't working".