Over the last decade, our country has started increasing its investment in early childhood education, and I can see how Preschool programs are benefitting. My children learned to socialize, cooperate, and cultivate their individual personalities in this cheerful group environment. What’s not to love? Still, there are things every mom thinks about preschool but doesn’t say out loud. It may be all sunshine and rainbows decorating the walls, but I’ve had some anxious thoughts at times when it came to this stage in my kids’ lives.
As a mom, I often second guess my decisions. I have never been a parent before, so I have to crowdsource to figure out what’s best for my kids. It has been easier with my second than with my first. There were no tears when I dropped my younger son off for preschool, but there were plenty — from both my daughter and me — when I would drop his older sister off. She must have sensed my fear. I’d question this decision about a full day of school at only three years old: was it necessary? Would it be a good fit? Will she keep crying even after I leave?
Preschool turned out to be wonderful experiences for both my kids, despite their different personalities. I made terrific friends with some parents of their friends from their group, and we continue to use the rules they learned there in our house (mostly the “keep your hands to yourself” law). Still, and despite the many positives, the experience came with trepidation. Here are some thoughts every mom has about preschool, but doesn’t say out loud, because it would feel too harsh to talk this way about a place that was my kids’ home away from home.