First Day of School

Last Thursday, Jonah went to his first day of school by himself. Let me clarify -- Michele and I dropped him off at school and left, for the first time in Jonah's 27+ months of life. Jonah did great.

The night before, I had attended a discussion on transitions and separation that was put on by the preschool. Before this, I hadn't really thought that Jonah's starting school would impact me. The talk, however, filled me with a low level of dread. Would my kid be one of the three per year who has to be "handed off" to a teacher while mom and dad sneak out the door? Would Jonah have a meltdown in the parking lot? Was I prepared for this? How, really, would Michele take it?



To start with, Jonah rocked. We walked into his classroom just before 9 and he headed straight for the toy fire engines. He barely noticed when we left, barely felt the kisses we plunked on his head because he was too busy to look up from playing. When Michele returned a few hours later, she had to convince him to leave the playground. No ill effects, whatsoever.

Michele held up better than I expected. A few tears, but that was it. She was the brave one that day.

I'm still thinking about it. As uneventful as it may have been, this seems like a big transition. I have no doubt that it is the right thing for all of us. Jonah will learn from different adults -- and kids. His immune system will get a chance to buff up. Michele will have some free time, which she truly deserves. I'm the only one whose life doesn't directly change. This makes me sad, in a funny way, because I feel kind of left out. I guess that's what happens to dads sometimes.

(Couldn't resist the video. Jonah sings the "Hello Song" from Music Together. See if you can catch "Hello to my silliness" in the second part.)