…for either Em or Mommy.

J., Addie and I just dropped Em off for her first official day of preschool.

She and I went to meet her teachers on Tuesday evening and to see her room. Em got very anxious and worried because there is another Emma in her classroom. I told her that there would probably always be another Emma in her class from now until she graduates, it, alas, is a very popular name. I think she was a little tired, and a little overwhelmed, and a little shy (I know?!), but when one of her teachers asked Em if she was excited she just looked very, very distressed. So I suggested maybe the class could call our Em, “Emma Grace” and the other little girl just “Emma.”

Em’s teacher thought that would work and it seemed to pacify Em, too.

Then today when we got to class, her teacher said, “Now are we going to call you Emma or Emma Grace?” (I was very impressed that she even remembered our exchange amidst all of the chaos and other parents and students from the other night.) Em said, “I think Emma Grace.”

And that was it. She went tearing around the room, exploring and was completely happy to say goodbye and start her school career.

I have such a good feeling about both of her teachers. I think she is in for a fantastic year and I’m so excited for her.

When I asked her at lunch if she was excited to go to school, she said, “Yes! Mama, remember when we met my teacher Miss Marie Rose? And she asked if I could give her a hug? I liked that hug. I liked the way she felt.”

And I liked the way I felt when I walked out of the school, a Mommy of an official “preschooler.”