Last year I was so excited about Piper starting school that we made a big deal out of it. Both Peter and I took her to school. We took lots of photos. Then it turned out to be a big bust. She just wasn't ready so we pulled her out after only two weeks. She's an introvert, like her mama, so she needed some more time at home.

So this year I've been quietly waiting to see how things work out. This school does things a little bit differently. She attends a Montessori school, which means it's a larger class size with mixed age children. She regularly attends in the afternoons for about 3 hours. The children "work" rather than play, which was an adjustment for me since we'd been involved in Waldorf where play is the focus.

She started on August 17th with only the new children. They spent a shorter period of time - about two hours - and only in the mornings. The following week, she stayed home on Monday so the returning students could meet and greet their friends. Then on Tuesday afternoon she joined them for her regular time period. 

What a difference a year makes! This has been a totally different experience. Last year she clung to my leg and didn't want me to even be out of her eyesight. This year from the very first day, she gave me a hug and a kissing hand (if you haven't read The Kissing Hand with your preschooler, I highly recommend it) and off she went. I watched from a one-way observation window to make sure she would be okay. Last year on the second day she had decided she'd be fine without me. So I did a little mental jig and started to drive home. They called me back to the school before I'd even gotten off the expressway. I wasn't making that mistake this time.

But she was fine. Absolutely fine. Not one tear was shed. I was told that children often start having issues after the first few days once they realize that school lasts more than a day. Once they understand that this is the way things will be from here on out, they tend to get a little emotional. Not her. She's come home and said she missed me a few times, but that's about it. She looks forward to going every day. She especially loves taking empty toilet paper rolls to give to the classroom pet - a gerbil named Lenny. And she likes finding little things from nature to take for show and tell. So far she's taken things like a fossil rock, some green beans from our garden, and an apple from apple picking.

Here is her second day of school picture. She didn't want me to take a first day of school picture, so I had to settle for this instead.

Here are some pictures through the observation window on her birthday. She got to make a special crown. She was so proud of it.