Preschool Adventures

Moorpark is the perfect city in which to raise children. I may be a bit biased, as I grew up here. Now that I have my own family, I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

The city has changed quite a bit since my family moved here in 1988. Yet the small-town charm remains.  I almost get the opportunity to relive my childhood as I watch my daughter grow up here. 

My almost four-year-old daughter, Kaila, started preschool two weeks ago. Although I  enjoy having some time to myself, it is strange not having her attached to me like she has been since she was born.

I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom the very morning I was supposed to return to my full-time job as an office administrator. Fully prepared to return to work, I woke up that morning and decided not to return. I did not want to miss any precious moment with my newborn. Everything else seemed insignificant .

I quickly learned that taking care of a child was much harder than going to work. At least when I was working, I would get a lunch break. Mothers never get breaks. Even the constant ringing of the phone at work was quieter than the scream of my colicky baby.

There are some days that I do miss the adult interaction and the productiveness of a regular job, but I could never imagine missing out on her silly dances and songs, coloring together for hours, making her happy face sandwiches for lunch and all the other daily rituals we have enjoyed together the past four years.

The first day I dropped my daughter off at preschool, she ran inside excitedly. I witnessed another child crying and holding on to his mother's leg, not wanting to let go. My daughter ran right in, smiling, and quickly grabbed a mini toy car. She sprinted back to show me.

"Look, Mommy!" she exclaimed.

I motioned for her to give me hugs and kisses before I left. When I got back inside my truck, I sat silent for a moment. It was definitely harder for me than for her.  When I picked her up that afternoon, she looked tired and a bit overwhelmed. Her little face lit up when I asked her what she had done on her first day. As we drove home down High Street, I listened to her explain, in her animated way, her experiences with her new school.

She has adapted to her new school well and I always look forward to the stories of her day. I realize that it's healthy to let children gain some independence in order to ready them for the future.  Sometimes it's also nice to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee while catching up on some recordings on my TiVo.