I'm toooo little for school!Yasmin is 15 months today. And today, she went to play school. Just for two hours, but it was two hours away from me ... and it was a tearful episode.
Sera's school just recently offered play school sessions for 1 year old children, and it got me wondering ... maybe, just maybe Yasmin would enjoy it? I mean, Sera loved it when she was 14 months! But I know that Yasmin is very different from Sera and I can't expect her to embrace play school like her sister. Therefore, I decided, on just a 'drop in' session today.
Yasmin loves going to Sera's school - the playground, the laughing and excited children, the kisses and hugs when we drop and pick her up at school. It's become a familiar routine for her. Today, when we picked Sera up from school, she was a little surprised when I ushered her into the Music Room. The toys, musical instruments and the few other children got her attention, lured her in. I quickly gave her a kiss and sneaked out. I stood outside the door and peeked through a little gap between the folding doors. She was FINE ... she was exploring and observing. Then it all started crumpling down. One of the kids cried ... no wailed. And a domino effect started. All eight children started to cry in unison. I stood with two other mothers, behind the door, just wanting to run in and swoop Yasmin into my arms but we were instructed by the teacher to give the children time ... time to cry it out, if necessary.
I was a wreck, I was pacing and I didn't think it was in me to pace. In the cacophony of cries, I could only hear Yasmin's. I had left Sera waiting at the Reading Corner and I knew I should just go to her. So I did. I went to Sera, read her about four books and decided we had to just leave the school and come back for Yasmin. That was the original plan ... to have some one on one time with Sera, while Yasmin was at play school twice a week. So Sera and I cycled to the neighbourhood mall and went to get a snack. I enjoyed my time with her but it was also a blur because Yasmin's cries were lingering in my mind ... my ears. We hung out at the mall for a while and cycled back to school. Thank goodness Sera was so easy and compliant that afternoon. When we were back at her school, she went straight for the Reading Corner and I went straight to the Music Room. There were no mothers standing outside, no crying ... but I heard singing! I peeked again and the kids were huddled together on the floor listening to the teacher sing nursery songs.
When the doors finally opened, I saw Yasmin playing with a car on the floor. I called her name; she looked up, stood up in a clumsy rush, half crying, half smiling (if that is even possible) ... she ran to me with arms wide open.
So I don't know if I can let Yasmin cry it out like that again. I haven't dropped her in for another session and I'm still undecided ... hmm, decisions, decisions. Or maybe not ... maybe I'll just hang out with her, take her for music sessions at her park ... just let her be. After all, she's only 15 months.
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