The Nagel News: Austin is a Preschooler!

Austin is officially a preschooler at Hope Lutheran Preschool! He just completed his first official day. I've been anxious about this day for weeks, not sure how to sort through my emotions of my one and only growing up. As I lay in bed last night I was coming up with all kinds of potential reasons why maybe he just wasn't ready yet - why he needed to be with me for another year. This weird thought plagued my mind for days, "Once he starts school there's no going back for 20 years!" A part of me still wanted to keep him all to myself, unsure if I was ready to share him with the world. I know, I know...it's only preschool. But I know how fast these 3 years have flown by and I can only imagine at what mach speed he'll bust though elementary, then junior high and on to high school. Seriously, look at those blue eyes! They melt my heart and provide constant joy in my life. How can I part with them? But, it's not about me. It's about Austin and he's ready to be a big boy. His brain needs stimulation from a new environment, new kids, new experiences.

We've been prepping him for preschool for about a week. He always seemed positive about the idea, never voicing any reservations. Whew. At back-to-school night he made himself at home with all the new toys in his classroom. The cowboy inside him is still very much alive and he hunted down some farm animals and a mini barn the minute he got in the door. Last night we read "The Night Before Preschool" (courtesy of Grandma Nagel) and packed his lime green monogrammed backpack (courtesy of Aunt Lish). We went over the logistics one more time and tucked him in bed. I sat down to fill out all the paperwork. One question had me pondering for a while: "Describe your child." Hum. That's not easy to do in 3 lines. Brett and I put our heads together to answer it. Our Answer: All boy! He loves to chase, wrestle, play "buckin' bronco" and anything cowboyish. He loves cars, ropes and skateboards. He has a tender heart but a fiesty attitude sometimes. He likes to make you laugh - a jokester. He likes you to watch his "cool tricks" but sometimes would just rather people watch. He loves (and talks about) his cousins a lot (Jakob, Aaron, Ava).

I could have went on and on but tried to keep it to the 3 lines.

On the ride to school I told Austin that I would be there waiting for him after school was over. He didn't like that. "No Mom! You don't pick me up! The school bus at my school will bring me home." He loves school buses, apparently more than riding with mom ;-). The drop off went well, so well in fact I could barely get him to stop playing for 2 seconds to give me a hug goodbye. Well OK then, guess I didn't have to be a helicopter mom, even though I felt like being one. So I got in the car and drove home, alone....and shed a little tear. Sniff, sniff.

The pick up went a bit like this:
Me - "Hi Austin! How was school today!?"
Austin - "I want a donut!" (in his signature whiny tone when he's tired)
Me - "Did you have fun? What did you play today?"
Austin - "Mom, I'm very impressed so I want a donut!"
Me - Chuckle to myself...apparently he learned the word "impressed" today. I'm sure the teacher was "impressed" with his artwork, "impressed" with his manners, and "impressed" with this cuteness ;-)...

Oh, so about that donut. I broke down, chalked it up to "the first day of school" and just a "special treat." I took him to the local Moxie Java and he picked the biggest cinnamon roll they had. Brunch of preschooler champions!