Well hey there!
Simon came home from school today with a sticker on his shirt. His teacher gave it to him as a reward for having such a good day.
I knew today was going to be better than yesterday because he talked about going to school this morning, was fine in the car, walked to his classroom without tears, and was only moist and whimpering—as opposed to drenched and devastated—when we left.
Still, the good-day sticker was more than I had cause to hope for. Now I can’t help but feel we have turned a corner for the 2009-10 school year.
Just a question, Jess. Is he devastated when leaving because he doesn’t want to leave? If so, I actually think that’s kind of a good thing. It just sounds like transitions are tough for him. Piotr would call it a “fear of liminal places!”
Amanda,
Well, I just cleared up about 15 typos (a record!) and realize that point was still unclear. He used to be drenched and devastated when Matt and I left him in his classroom in the morning. The first week, when I would say goodbye, he would sob and wail and pull at me. Tuesday he just looked nervous and whimpered. Today was the same. And according to his teachers, he stops crying seconds after we are out of sight.
So yes, it is the transitions that are so hard for him. He hates liminal places even more than most toddlers. Can’t say I love them myself.