Big Boy School

Marco has started real pre-school.

Since Jeff and I are incredibly discerning and picky parents, we chose the one closest to our house, that provides after school care for our local public school, and, ah shucks, it just happens to be the cheapest.

So far, it's been really, really great. I kind of didn't realize how ready he was to have another experience. We loved being at Alba's for three years, but he didn't have anyone there his age and he was the oldest all-day child left.

Now he's in a class of 30 kids his own age. There are three teachers in his class. He had two transitional, "But I want another kiss!" days and now he's good. The teachers rave about his easy transition, how he loves to play with all the kids and his love for Elena (one of the teacher's daughters).

Having a calendar of what they work on is so great... Science day, Kung Fu movement day, dance class, sharing day... I adore it.

We've already been uber-dorky involved, including a parents' night out (Marco goes to school for movie night while we go out), a PTA meeting and we're fans online. Every parent I meet says, "oh! We've heard all about Marco! [Blank] talks about him!"

So far, Marco talks about one friend, "Johnny." I found out his name is "Benny," to which Marco said, "yeah! Benny!" Ah, to be three.

It's been an amazing realization to meet kids in our neighborhood that could be Marco's lifetime friends. (After all, Jeff ran away from Jack's house when he was five.) I mean, Marco and Benny have the same retro, metal Curious George lunchbox, so if that's not lifetime friend material, what is?

I asked Marco what Benny looked like so I could recognize him and he said, "He looks like a real funny guy!"

Today he told me, "Benny and I put spike-tailed dinosaurs down the slide! It was funny. But then we were put on timeout."

Marco new pride is his cubby and hook (this is actually his stuff, not trash.)

I've never felt more love and like and appreciation of my kid watching him transition to "big boy school."