Mommy’s Preschool Blues

My husband and I just got back from a “preschool interview.” The interview is a prerequisite for our son to be enrolled in a September class. I have to say, this was one of the more depressing days I have had for a while. Was it a great preschool? Absolutely. Did our son seem to love it? Yes. Were the teachers, kids, and administration all exceedingly nice? Of course. So why am I so down? I think it is just the idea that our “baby” is growing up. But it is also the idea that our society now seems to expect toddlers to be ready to go to preschool. They might be, but I am not sure that the we are. At least not this set of parents. We keep weighing the pros & cons of making this leap, and most of the pros come down on the side of “it is time for our son to go to school.” But I just can’t shake the guilt, fear, and hesitation in taking this step.  Maybe it is our concern about being separated from our son. Or perhaps it is the fear that our son will do something “naughty” and others will sit in judgement of our parenting skills. Or maybe it is that we worry that now others will have a greater influence than us upon our son. Most likely we just know that once we start this process, there is no going back. Before we know it, he will be in “real school” and family time will be the exception not the rule. Whatever the case may be, I know that every day before September I plan to offer a few extra cuddles and cherish every little bit of mommy time I can get, but I can’t help thinking those preschool blues just aren’t going to go away.

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