The question is, whose separation anxiety.

K.Lo did well, overall, for her first day of preschool. She was excited to prepare for the Unknown, very compliant in getting dressed, helping The Manager load up her backpack (which she has been sleeping with for 3 nights now) with lunchbox and supplies. Talked about going to preschool, even sang a few bars of the Preschool Musical song. She was even fine for the car ride there, singing along to our usual selection. But K.Lo is wise, and knew Something Was Up, pretty much as soon as we entered the building. We hung around, figured out the right room, introduced K.Lo to the teachers, and then I withdrew my tiny pair of scissors from back pocket to begin snipping the apron strings. The fabric was tough.

K.Lo screamed, she wailed, she thrashed; one might have thought they shackle preschoolers to the wall at this institution and force-feed them gruel, but not so. Word is that they painted T-shirts today, and learned about dinosaurs, before going outside on the playground. K.Lo also reportedly helped the teacher pass out juice, and they talked about princesses.

When I picked her up, frankly, she looked worn out, like she’d been upset for the better part of the morning. Her lip trembled, her skin was pale. Apparently she calmed down about 20-25 minutes and was fine for the better part of the morning, but lost it again when a colleague’s Manager showed up early, and hers wasn’t yet there.

Sigh.

But in the meantime, I enjoyed a quiet morning at the office exercising, catching up on paperwork, and hearing my own thoughts. N.Lo took a THREE-HOUR NAP, and is now up for a promotion and a raise after such exemplary work.

K.Lo did brighten up as soon as we got to the company car, and chatted all the way home about her Big Day. Something about using the Employee Rest Room, and eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, and going outside to play… The company plan is to talk it up for the rest of the week, until next Tuesday, when we will hopefully see a slightly less dramatic departure.

Fly little butterfly, fly.

PostSchool

K.Lo, Post-Preschool (Post Trauma)

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8 peanuts:
  1. Kurt says:

    I've been through this as the outsourcing provider for many new hires. 20 - 25 minutes of withdrawal symptoms is a pretty good job performance.

  1. penelope says:

    Thanks, Kurt. (Outsourcing provider! Brills terminology.)

  1. Anonymous says:

    I bet she thought you probably looked worn out, too. Despite your claims of relaxation and enjoyment, I'm sure the worry took it's toll as well. Good job, persevering! It will get easier as you both adjust. Keep talking it up and I bet she'll be ready again by next Tuesday and have a much better understanding of the process.

  1. ~sarah says:

    and good for you for snipping those apron strings! as a former outsourcing provider, i have seen waaaaaay too many managers tie those strings into huge knots by popping their heads back in "just to check" or not letting the professionals deal with the trauma at all. it makes it last twice as long and is twice as hard to get through next time. so kudos to you! way to encourage independent thinking in your office and to know how to delegate! : )

  1. penelope says:

    Thanks!! It was hard to be tough, but I'm glad I did it. And will continue to do it. (I'm pumping myself up.)

  1. Niki says:

    This post brought a little tear to my eye.

  1. Niki says:

    This post brought a little tear to my eye.