That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling this morning.
My youngest son started preschool this morning. Needless to say, it did not go well.
I've stayed home with him since birth and he's never had a babysitter that wasn't an aunt, uncle or grandparent. So he isn't used to being dropped off. I knew this would be really hard for him. I spoke with his teacher during meet the teacher day to let her know that he would probably cry. She said that she would come and take him and then I would leave. I explained over and over to my son that mommies and daddies don't go to school. They can't stay. I explained how his day would go.
He woke up excited. He danced around and bragged about how he was going to school this morning. He even wanted to be dropped off first, before his older brother. He was in high spirits as he got dressed and ate breakfast.
My husband came with me to drop him off. After the teacher took him, we left the room. We could hear him screaming and crying, yelling for mommy. I could hear him trying to get out the door. :( My husband wanted to go back in and take him out, but I told him that that would only make things worse.
I figured this would be easier, since this isn't my first child and I knew what to expect. But jeez.... I feel like the meanest mother on the planet right now. I feel so bad for him...... At least it's only a 3 hour preschool. Soon enough it will be time to go and get him. Back on meet the teacher day, the teacher told me that I could call and check on him. I think I might do that. :)
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I called to check on him, lol. They said he had "Calmed down considerably" and was sitting and listening. That makes me feel a little better.
When Roshane started pre school here in Florida he was upset for three months, but it was mostly because he could not speak much English. When he started daycare in Denmark at 2 1/2 he also cried, but it only took a few days before he stopped crying, when I dropped him off.
I hope Nicholas enjoys his day. He loves to learn, so I know that once he gets used to school he will like it.
Then a few weeks after Jonas was born she started having trouble with me leaving. She would go inside and play for a minute and as I started down the hall she would suddenly tear out of the room (the door was still open to welcome the students coming in) and chase after me screaming. When the teachers told me that it was alright and that they would just take her in and shut the door I was surprised.
I had no experience with any of this because Zachary willingly went anywhere and never cried for me. I wanted to take her home but they said that would only make it worse. After about a week or so of her doing it she was back to normal. She never did it again!
It's so hard when it happens though.
That would have been awful if he had gotten out of the class and come running for me. Yikes. I probably would have caved, lol.
After the first week, it will go much better for your son. He's four, he will need a little adjustment time, but he will be fine.
By next week, you may even start enjoying the extra time for yourself.
do they have opportunity for you to volunteer in the classroom so that you can spend some time there?
we've also had children (lots of them) that cry when their parents leave the ENTIRE school year...some even cry the whole day.
There is no easy solution for making it easier.......I did write an article about seperation anxiety on associated content years ago though.
When I picked him up, he was all smiles. I didn't have a chance to talk to the teacher one on one, but she said that he "had a good day". I'm hoping she was telling the truth! :)
Your son will get over it soon. He will feel like a big boy when he doesn't cry or feel bad that he is not with you. He will get used to being with the other kids and the teacher once the routine of the day kicks in.