Cael's First Day of Preschool

I have been dreading this morning for months.

Not because I will miss him terribly - though, obviously, I will - but because I didn't think he could handle it. Cael is the type of guy who after two years of playdates still has to have me hold his hand when he crosses the room. Abandoning him entirely in a brand new situation? I was sure it wasn't going to fly.

I imagined it several ways. One version involved him clinging to my leg, another had him chasing after the car as I drove away, and all ended with both of us in tears.

Give me back those months of heartache because this kid? Is a rockstar.

Here he is, impersonating his Batman action figure.

And here you can see he's already drawning the attention of the ladies.

He gave us kisses and hugs and noses and waved goodbye. Then, as we were entering the parking lot, he ran out onto the porch to make sure we'd be back for him. Ryan assured him that we would, and then Cael waved again and headed off to the sandbox.

What I didn't anticipate was that this would be hardest on Finn. He cried and flailed and tried to get back into the school as we walked away. He stood in his carseat with stiff legs and arms and refused to be buckled in. The poor guy didn't want to leave Cael.

It occurred to Ryan and I on the drive home that in his entire life Finn has never been far enough from Cael that he couldn't reach him if he wanted to. This is a huge thing to be separated.

So Finn and I are at home, lonely and crying, and Cael is knee deep in new toys and not giving us a second thought.

Big boys. They break your heart.