Educating Mommy

I had a lump in my throat before the door clicked shut behind me.  I just barely made it to the parking lot before the tears came.  I sat there knowing I had to leave but I couldn't make myself drive off.  The tears burned my eyes and ran down my face.  How was I going to leave Wilson here with complete strangers.  He was only 11 months old and had never been in daycare before. I just knew that he would find some rogue marble and choke on it before they could get to him.  What if they forgot to give him his sippy cup and dehydration sat in before I got back to pick him up.  Surely these people didn't know how to take care of my baby.  How was he ever going to nap with 8 other kids in the room? How were they going to know when he was hungry?  I was certain that I would get a call before the end of the day.  The call never came.  I got there to pick him up expecting to find him waiting by the door.  I burst into the room to see him sitting on the floor with a little friend playing with a puzzle.  He was perfectly happy and content.  He was not choking on a marble and he appeared to be well hydrate.  Was it really possible that my baby could survive out in the world without me?  Well maybe not out in the real world but he could clearly navigate the world of daycare without missing a beat.  Of course every day wasn't perfect.  He was repeatedly bitten by a little terror named Courtney.   He got a piece of a crayon stuck in his nose when he was about two.  He had his first playground brawl with his good buddy Zach over the posession of a red wagon.  He had tantrums when he got overwhelmed and he didn't always take a nap.  But there were hundreds of wonderful days.  He brought home artwork made of macaroni noodles and yarn.  There were field trips to Barnes and Noble.  There were Christmas musicals and Valentines parties, poster board projects and Show and Tells.  But most importantly were the friends we made. Wilson has been incredibly blessed with some wonderful teachers.  Miss Grace, Miss Susie, Miss Allison, Miss Dueland, Miss Badillo, Miss Kristen, Miss Rodriguez, Miss Lee,  Miss Supreya, Miss Donalyn and Miss Babs.  They have all helped shape the amazing little boy that Wilson has become.  I can't believe that four and a half years has passed since that first morning that I dropped Wil off at Neighborhood Academy.  He has learned so much and had so many experiences.  Kindergarten will be here before we know it and I will have a whole new set of worries.  Will he be able to manage the cafeteria on his own?  Will he get lost on his way to the library? There are a lot of unknows but two things I am pretty sure of... On Wilson's first day of Kindergarten, I will sit in the parking lot and cry and he will never miss a beat!