Ben's Last Day of Preschool

Benny Boo graduated from preschool on Friday. Although I had an enormous lump in my throat when I walked into Speedway Christian Church to pick him up for the last time, the tears never flowed. Miss Angie did, however, say that Ben cried twice at school and he NEVER cries at school so she suspected that he was a bit emotional. Sorry, Ben. You get your sensitivity honestly.

It seems like just yesterday that we were starting our little man off on his education adventure.

I vividly remember Ben's first day of preschool. I was so excited and nervous for the big day. I was so anxious anticipating how he would respond to being dropped off at a strange place and left with strange people he had never met. Ben was so excited and ready to go when I dropped him off with Miss Kris and Miss Lisa that September morning in 2006. He didn't so much as blink when I kissed him goodbye. Iwas so proud of him but so sad to walk away from him and called my mom bawling from the parking lot. It turns out I wasn't the only one bawling. When I returned to pick Ben up that afternoon I could hear someone crying before I even got to his classroom. I entered the room to see this screaming child who was red faced and hysterical. This had evidently been going on for quite awhile. I immediately called my mom once again from the parking lot, crying and insisting that I was never returning. My mom and Dean convinced me to hang in there and the following week we returned to school and this time he started hysterically crying as we entered the parking lot of the church (what was it about that parking lot that reduced us both to tears?). Ben was an absolute wreck and literally broke out into hives he was crying so hard by the time I left. I ended up calling the director of the preschool that day and asking her if she thought Ben wasn't ready and perhaps I should pull him out and try again next year. Miss Debbie convinced me to give it some time and said it can take some kids several weeks to get aclimated. Benny and I both hung in there and it definitely took several weeks for him to get used to school...and truthfully a couple years before he liked school. And the years flew by until it was time for the last day of preschool. I was very emotional in the days leading up to this momentous occasion. Ben took it in stride and was fired up and ready for the future. I am so proud of how Ben has matured the past 4 years. He is confident, outgoing, competitive, and intelligent. I know he is fully prepared for kindergarten and have no doubt that he will shine at Wheeler as brightly as he shined at Opportunity Day. I love you Benny Boo. Now slow down and quit growing up so fast.