Nursery School Orientation for Koen

It was a big day in the Melder Family today. Koen had orientation for his nursery school this morning. It was a great opportunity to get his feet wet with the whole nursery school experience and it was a full family outing. We had been really talking up nursery school over the past few weeks and especially the last few days. Koen was so excited this morning when he woke up that before we got him up for breakfast Koen had already undressed himself from the waist down and found underpants and pants in his dresser and put them on by himself (of course both were backwards). It was so cute. He was so excited to tell Doug that he had picked out his own outfit and put the clothes on himself (I must note he was still in his PJ top, so his look was quite hilarious). He also mentioned to Doug that since he was his first day at nursery school he wanted to "match." Thankfully when I suggested another outfit (I blamed it on the weather that it was too hot to wear pants), Koen said, "ok, Mommy, I'm so sorry about this, it's all my fault." So hilarious the responses he comes up with!

Our whole morning was directed at getting out of here at 10am to walk to the school with time to spare before the 10:30am orientation start. Before heading out on our walk, Koen posed for a few pictures (see below), one was serious and one was silly. Can you tell the difference? He has his hands folded because that is his "I'm so excited" look.

On our way to the nursery school he seemed pensive and a little tired, he did this without prompting...

The nursery school really impressed us as they just finished a construction project. We were also impressed at the wonderful care all of the employees took to welcome us and immediately engage with Koen and the other children.

Tavin did pretty well amidst the busyness in the room and the fact this event was not for him at all and considering it was his naptime too! He fell asleep for a few minutes on our way there and then probably napped for a half hour on our way home as we stopped on errands and walked back through our neighborhood. A beautiful day here by the way!

Anyways, Koen did great at nursery school. He was obviously overwhelmed with all there was to play with and look at and he was very quiet with the adults and other children, but I could see that the room, the supplies, the toys and the teachers were all exactly geared to his age, personality and skill set.

I think he will really do well there with some new challenges (socializing, listening and obeying others, working with other children, etc.) and new distractions (toys, storytime, crafts, etc.). At the end of orientation the teacher led a storytime. Koen seemed to get very aware of the fact he was somewhere different, that he was going to have to stop playing with the trucks and then it happened...he totally showed his "momma's boy" side. When I walked away from getting him settled at storytime he totally wailed and cried, "Mommy!, where are you going?" Oh dear. I was half-hoping some other kid would do the same thing and make me feel a little more normal, but no, it was just Koen. I sat with him through storytime and he was fine (super reserved and quiet, but fine). It definitely made me nervous about how Thursday will go with saying goodbye to him, I'm thinking that sending him off with Doug might be best, but we'll see.