Everyone else did their “back to school” posts a week or two ago, but my baby girl started preschool today (well, yesterday by the time this posts). Armed with my back to school list of things I needed wanted to do, I pulled a late-nighter getting it all done. Back to school gifts for the teacher, fun prop for the “must capture this” photo shoot, and creative lunchbox with a cute little note… all done around midnight. Yep, my time management skills need some fine-tuning. We are the antitheses of a “scheduled” family, but as a mom who also works from home running my own business or three, I’m having to change that. I was so overly scheduled in my autism career that I lived by my day planner. When I retired, I never wanted to see that thing again… and I don’t think I have. I am, however, becoming addicted to the Cozi app on my iphone. It’s not perfect, but it’s close!
So I dropped my baby off at preschool. Three years ago, I swore I would home school. I do still consider it, but my little girl loves to be with friends and started asking to go to school. And having a home business to run, the thought of having some guilt-free time to work sounded appealing. It was a win-win situation.
Today wasn’t the first time she’s been dropped off for something. I have used an occasional daycare drop-in program, she attended a drop-off dance camp this summer (yes, she’s 3), and I’ve left her with family a handful of times, more so since starting my business. But this was her first, official, have to be there 3 days a week, really “in school” experience. She was excited. I was happy, but sad. I’m so proud of the fantastic little person she’s becoming, but so sad that she’s already so grown up. (Time for #2??) And this was one of the first times that she was dropped off somewhere and I was home. It was oddly quiet. Different from if she’d been home taking that ever-more-elusive nap.
I was home. It was quiet. Now what?? Do I get work done? Do I catch up on reading? Do I get to clean without the tornado shadow that usually follows in my footsteps and finally organize my home? I’ve never been a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) of a preschooler before. I have to say, it’s kind of nice, it’s kind of sad, and it’s kind of TOO SHORT!! There, I said it. The day was too short to feel I could really get anything done. I need to work on a schedule of what I can realistically accomplish while she’s in school and make that time as productive as I can. This includes my “selfish” Zumba classes that I cherish. Today, I caught up with an old friend from school and shared my business with him so that he could share it with his wife. And I had a snack. And I watched a little bit of cheesy TV while hanging out somewhat aimlessly on social media sites. Then it was time to go hug my baby just in time to watch her really start to swim on her own in her lessons for the first time. I am a proud momME.
I love my life. I no longer feel guilty about changing my mind on home-schooling because I made this decision with her best interest in mind (more about that in a later post). We are both getting a chance to grow and push our comfort zones, and I welcome the journey.
If you’re a 1st-time mom of a preschooler, how was your first day? Any mixed emotions? What did you do to pass the time? Share your story and celebrate this latest milestone. Here are a few highlights of our day:
Hope I can keep this up!!
Lotion and a micro-dermabrasion paste packet 
She settled right in!