original little hellraisers

i’ve been in complete denial about sending owen to preschool.  san francisco, like many cities, has waiting lists for their preschools, parents are advised to put there babies on waiting list when they are born.  some preschools even accept applications once you are pregnant.  it’s preschool?!   i just couldn’t bring myself to tour preschools when owen was still a baby.  i just couldn’t see my little baby in school already.  i still find myself feeling like, he couldn’t possibly be ready to go to preschool, to be away from me for that long.  i have visions of him being sad, sitting in the corner, friendless, crying to go home, for his mama.

we’ve been taking tours of preschools this month and boy am i wrong.  after a few minutes of observation, owen easily makes a friend, starts talking with them and initiating play.  exclaiming  ”i have an idea!” and his new little friend follows him.  i’m trying to listen to the preschool director’s explanation of their program, but i’m just so distracted, proud and sad that my little baby is a little boy and doesn’t really need me like i imagine him to.

owen has been learning so quickly i can hardly keep track.  i honestly don’t know where he learns all of these things.  so this morning i was curious and conducted a little impromptu test.  ABC’s? check. number’s 1-18 (he lost interest in my little test after 18)? check.  i started drawing shapes; circle, square, triangle? check. check. check.  so i started drawing an octagon, thinking there was no way he’d know what that was and then in this little toddler voice he says “octagon”.  what?!  how does he know that?  i don’t think i new that until i was in highschool taking geometry!  i’ve come to the conclusion that he is so ready both socially and academically.  it’s me who’s not ready to let go, but i will.  i haven’t made a decision on a preschool yet and we’ll be on a waiting list, but, hopefully he’ll start in january.  oh yeah, hexagon was easy too!