Monday night was Dad's night at preschool.
Melinda was pretty psyched about the whole thing. Tracey's Dad came over to watch Gretchen (Tracey had a bow-making class), so my leaving (normally a tragic affair) was hardly noticed. Melinda skipped to the car giving me directions about everything - she's four after all - she's a woman of the world.
As we walked in, Melinda happily led me to her classroom. A couple Dads & kids were waiting when we got there. "That's Eric, Dad. And that's Colleen." I had informed Melinda that I wanted to meet all of her friends, and she was very good at letting me know who everyone was.
School opened and after hanging up her coat, Melinda went right to the "kitchen." Over the next 17 minutes, I met everyone in her class (the fifteen other kids that came). "This is Bridget, and that's Molly and Madeline." We flitted from activity to activity. I actually got a couple minutes to talk with Mrs. Karen and Mrs. Mary. "Is she always this happy at home? Melinda just skips in here every morning - she's such a happy little girl." Dad just smiles and demurely says, "She is happy."
After our first 17 minute station (abbreviated preschool so we can experience the whole thing, the lights are dimmed (cleanup time) and the kids sit down in an open area.
In preparing me for preschool, Melinda was telling me all about the different activities and kept coming back to what sounded like a non-sequitur - 10 minutes. I was a little unclear on what 10 minutes was... Was this how long we were going to do each activity? "It's 10 minutes Dad [exasperated]"
Turns out after playing we had "10 minutes." During "10 minutes," Mrs. Mary called out every child's name, they cawed like a crow and we got back in line (lines to and from every class). Yes, "10 minutes" was "attendance" in disguise. I tried to get Melinda to see the humor and she wasn't buying it.
First time I've seen her a little uncomfortable about something like this - bitter sweet for me.
After attendance, we did library, art and then music. No time for gym (Tracey tells me that for Mom's tea (whole 2 1/2 hour experience) they all played duck-duck-GOOSE.
Happy evening for me. I'm glad that Melinda enjoys school.
As we walked in, Melinda happily led me to her classroom. A couple Dads & kids were waiting when we got there. "That's Eric, Dad. And that's Colleen." I had informed Melinda that I wanted to meet all of her friends, and she was very good at letting me know who everyone was.
School opened and after hanging up her coat, Melinda went right to the "kitchen." Over the next 17 minutes, I met everyone in her class (the fifteen other kids that came). "This is Bridget, and that's Molly and Madeline." We flitted from activity to activity. I actually got a couple minutes to talk with Mrs. Karen and Mrs. Mary. "Is she always this happy at home? Melinda just skips in here every morning - she's such a happy little girl." Dad just smiles and demurely says, "She is happy."
After our first 17 minute station (abbreviated preschool so we can experience the whole thing, the lights are dimmed (cleanup time) and the kids sit down in an open area.
In preparing me for preschool, Melinda was telling me all about the different activities and kept coming back to what sounded like a non-sequitur - 10 minutes. I was a little unclear on what 10 minutes was... Was this how long we were going to do each activity? "It's 10 minutes Dad [exasperated]"
Turns out after playing we had "10 minutes." During "10 minutes," Mrs. Mary called out every child's name, they cawed like a crow and we got back in line (lines to and from every class). Yes, "10 minutes" was "attendance" in disguise. I tried to get Melinda to see the humor and she wasn't buying it.
First time I've seen her a little uncomfortable about something like this - bitter sweet for me.
After attendance, we did library, art and then music. No time for gym (Tracey tells me that for Mom's tea (whole 2 1/2 hour experience) they all played duck-duck-GOOSE.
Happy evening for me. I'm glad that Melinda enjoys school.
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