“Mom, please don’t come down yet! I’m working on a surprise for you,” says my nearly 5-year-old daughter from the hallway.
“Alright,” I reply, chuckling to myself as I linger on the stairs, giving her a few moments to complete her “surprise.”
“I’m all set!” she announces a minute later. She’s donned her shoes and socks, zipped her sweatshirt, and filled her water bottle, all while adding a cute bow to her hair. In these last few weeks of preschool, she’s so proud of what she can accomplish on her own.
It’s hard to believe that this chapter of her preschool life is wrapping up, along with so many milestones: five simple words have evolved into a rich vocabulary; her crawling transformed into running, hopping, and skipping; finger painting has evolved into thoughtful brush strokes; and her emotional vocabulary has expanded from just happy, sad, or angry to include ecstatic, disappointed, and frustrated.
I have no doubt that my third child will be more than ready for kindergarten this fall, and I’ll be prepared too. Still, saying goodbye to the preschool years and the accompanying stage of motherhood is making me a bit nostalgic. Here are five heartwarming reasons I’ll miss preschool:
1. Tardiness Isn’t a Big Deal
With two older children, getting everyone out the door for school is a frenzy of chaos and stress. Arriving late for elementary school can have serious repercussions, like missing parts of lessons and potentially affecting grades. Thankfully, that’s not the case in preschool. After my older kids head off, my 4-year-old and I might snuggle up for one more story or finish baking playdough cookies before we go. These extra moments together are precious, especially knowing that as she grows, our time together will dwindle.
2. Creative Masterpieces
I know we all joke about the mountain of “art” our little ones bring home from preschool. While we cheerfully accept countless finger paintings, foil rocket ships, and landscapes constructed with leaves and sticks, we often plot how to discreetly recycle most of it. Yet, as kids transition to kindergarten, their chances for creative expression decrease significantly. Despite my moaning about the piles of colorful creations, I will truly miss sifting through them while my daughter shares the tales of her warrior princess, dragons, and oversized rabbits.
3. Time in the Classroom
Most mornings and some afternoons, I hang around for a bit to see the new happenings in the classroom (like the caterpillars munching on milkweed or the imaginary vet clinic set up for play), greet my daughter’s classmates, and steal a few extra hugs and kisses. Next year, we’ll start our days promptly at 8:15 a.m., and after the first week, goodbyes will be said at the door. As children grow, parents have fewer chances to connect in the classroom. This transition is normal, but it’s tough knowing I won’t be as involved in her daily experiences.
4. Sandy Shoes
Sure, I won’t miss the daily deluge of sand that spills from her purple sneakers into the car, on the front porch, and even onto our kitchen chairs. However, I will miss what that sand signifies: endless time spent running, playing, pouring, sifting, building, and exploring. Next year, she’ll likely spend more time indoors, learning in a different way. While I’m grateful for less sand in my life, it’s bittersweet realizing she’s leaving behind the carefree years of childhood for the more structured life of a student.
5. The Community
When our kids are young, we truly rely on our extended community to help raise them. In the early years, it’s the moms’ group; in preschool, it’s the other parents and teachers. I know and trust the families in my daughter’s class and the teachers across all three classrooms. They recognize when something might be off with her or keep me informed about significant developmental or social milestones. Once she transitions to kindergarten in a larger school, she won’t receive the same level of individual attention, and I won’t know as many families. While her classroom teachers will be vital contacts, the cozy, connected community we have in preschool is hard to replicate in a larger setting.
Moving on from the preschool phase isn’t easy. I know my daughter and I will adapt to the new routines, but we’ll have to make an extra effort at home to keep up with art projects, enjoy outdoor fun, and chat about her school day. For now, I plan to cherish these final weeks of preschool with leisurely mornings and plenty of time in the classroom. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to rescue that artwork from the recycling bin.
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In summary, while the transition from preschool to kindergarten is filled with mixed emotions, I will cherish the memories of this delightful phase and the connections we’ve built along the way.