First Day of Pre School

"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." - John Lennon

Last Friday, we had Ava's first day of pre-school. At the Ivybrook Academy, they "stagger" pre-pre school entry. The first two weeks are half-half half days. Ava will be going once per week for a half day; during these first two staggered weeks, she is only there for 1.5 hours. This helps with transitioning the children into the school.

We arrived at 10:45 to drop Ava off for her half-half day. As we pulled into the parking lot we saw Ava's neighborhood friend, Logan, getting out of the car at the same time. We all walked in together, and it was very cute. When we got in Ava gave us hugs and kisses and bye-byes and away she went playing. Logan on the other hand, was not so happy. She immediately started to cry and her poor Momma, Melissa, had to leave the room while her baby girl was crying. So sad.

We went to the Principle's office where we could watch the children from their closed-circuit camera - and we experienced our most proud moment, as parents, yet.

Logan was sitting on Miss Erica's lap, still crying, at a play table. We watched the monitor as Ava looked up at Logan, walked across the room, and gave Logan a hug. It was absolutely beautiful to see that Ava knew Logan was sad, and she tried to comfort her. Logan did not settle down.

Ava proceeded to the cubbies and got a book and a baby doll. She carried both of these items over to Logan, to offer to her, to help feel better. Logan still cried.

Ava then went to the other play table, and pulled a chair out from underneath, and pulled the chair over to where Miss Erica and Logan were sitting, she sat down in the chair right next to them. She put her arm out and started rubbing on Logan's back to help calm her down.

The other parents and the principle of the school were so impressed with Ava's compassion and caring at such a young age, and it basically brought Jeff and I to tears because we were so proud of her. She wasn't interested in playing with all the toys, reading the books, coloring on the white boards, she wanted to comfort her friend.

Jeff was such a proud Dada at that moment that he asked Miss Bonnie (school principle) to get us a copy of the tape because it was proof of her warm and sweet character.

Ava did great at her first day of school, until the teacher lifted her up to get her diaper changed. She is not always comfortable with people that she is not very familiar with lifting her up. So she got upset, but the teacher said it only lasted a few minutes.

To say that we are proud of our girl is an absolute understatement.