Freedom's First Day of Preschool

Freedom, here you are on your first day of preschool! You did GREAT. Your morning started off a little rough when you didn't want to get dressed or go to the bathroom, but after a while of fits, you did make the choice to do what was right.

Here you are, waiting at a red light.


We're here! Time to hop out of the van! You have wanted me to carry you ALL your life. It's such a mixed feeling for me, I love to feel your snuggly little self up close, but you're getting heavy and it's over 100 degrees outside most days! You hopped out of the van and immediately asked me to please carry you, with your polite big-boy voice. I agreed to carry you to the outside door and you were satisfied with that short walk. You held me very tight the whole way with your whole body - arms, legs, head and body pressed in.

The first thing that caught your eye was this little globe. You ran and picked it up and said to me in amazement, "Look Mama! The world!" I remember about a year ago, when you showed us on the globe where we lived - you pointed exactly at San Antonio! You don't care to learn your letters and you dislike being quizzed like the girls, but you have a knack for globes, maps and machinery. You're also very sure of yourself physically and you're very coordinated.

We took a picture by your cubby and put your lunchbox and snack away. We went and said hello to the teacher and then kissed and hugged goodbye. I turned to head out the door and you also turned the other way. But within a few seconds after I left the room, you were running out of the room and crying. The teacher and I were very quick to tell you that you could not leave the room - she closed the half-door and I told you to have a great day in the midst of your wailing. The teacher responded for you and told me to also have a great day as I walked away. I stopped around the corner at the couches and sat until you stopped crying. It took you about 30 seconds to stop crying. After a few minutes, I left the school and drove off. Then, I cried about 30 minutes. I prayed you wouldn't feel abandoned by me. I prayed that God would make your daddy and me better parents for you and the tears flowed all the more. I prayed that you would walk confidently in the direction of the Lord all the days of your life. I prayed, wept and interceded for you all the way to Costco.

After Costco, I must admit I cried all the way home, but this time not for you. Let me tell you something wonderful about your Daddy. I cried on the way home from Costco because your daddy was so sweet to me. When I talked to him the night before about all the things I "needed to do" he focused me in on one thing. All I really needed to do was purchase toilet paper at Costco while you guys were in school - anything else was icing on the cake. And so, he relieved a great pressure from me and I was very moved by this. I prayed I can be more like that and be a person who relieves pressure rather than "puts it on like a ton of bricks." And I prayed for your Daddy, that the Lord would honor him for this, hopefully through me, that I might be a blessing to him. I wish I could write this paragraph with humor, but my spirit is just filled with the seriousness of it. I drove home and considered my Heavenly Father, he doesn't ask us to do a million things - just one thing - lay ourselves down at the cross. Our Heavenly Father does everything else - directs our paths day by day.

Anyway, Freedom, if you notice on the first day of school for the girls, there's no pictures of you. That's because I forgot about you that morning! You were sleeping in our bed and your daddy, Memaw and I just walked the girls to school and left you there. Your dad said he thought I made a conscience decision to let you sleep in. No, I just didn't consider you at all!!! Your mother has a hard time holding a lot of things in her head at one time. Praise the Lord, you were still asleep when we got home. It wasn't until a neighbor asked about you at school that I realized what I had done! (Hence the need for deep prayer for your parents!!! You poor thing! LOL).

But, I was absolutely paranoid I wouldn't be at school to pick you up on time - but for some crazy reason I was 30 minutes early. So I sat outside your classroom and listened. You were very well-behaved. Your teacher told a wonderful story and you listened intently. You are a VERY GOOD BOY and your daddy and I are so proud of you. You were happy to see me and gave me a cherished tight hug. You ate a leftover cookie from lunch in the van on the way home. When we got home, you wanted to know where daddy was because you needed to tell him you went to school. You were very articulate in explaining your day and we loved hearing all about it.