So Long, and Thanks for All the GoldFish

As I mentioned in my previous post, after nearly 5 years with his current care provider, Friday will be Lukas' last day at Pre-K there.  Wow.

I have to say, despite what I wrote in my last post, up until now it hasn't REALLY sunk in.  And, given that, there hasn't been a lot of emotion about the day from anyone involved.  However, now that I am writing this post it is starting to seem very real.  Change is here.  It feels....a bit scary actually.

Mrs. LIAYF and I have treated this week here pretty much like any other, with only a few mentions about how he will not be seeing a whole lot of his friends after Friday.  We have, though, talked about setting up some play dates to try to soften the blow.

In reality, almost all his gang are from other parts of the city, so Friday will probably be the last time he sees some of them - although there is a birthday party for 3 of them in a couple of weeks where many others will attend.

Lukas is aware of this fact for the most part.  Mrs. LIAYF and I  have not belabored it so as not to make too big a deal out of what may end up being one of the most stressful times of his young life.  Most of the time our son is very good about dealing with all kinds of changes so we are hoping that he won't hit a point where he is really sad about it even though we know having such emotions is not a bad thing.  Just something to work through with understanding and love.

We will be a bit sad about leaving the facility as well.  Not as much as we would have thought a few months ago, but it's change for us too.  Different routines to get used to.  Different adults to learn to trust handling the one thing we treasure most in life.

For the past 5 years Lukas received good care from this group of caregivers.  For that we are grateful.  In the end however, we had a decision to make.  To keep him there another year, or to send him to kindergarten.  That decision was shaping up to be one of the most difficult Mrs LIAYF ever had to make.  In the end though, there were a few recent instances we experienced with them which made it clear that Lukas would not benefit from another year there.  Despite all the arguments for Red-Shirting, we couldn't ignore that.  Plus, intellectually he is extremely ready to move on.

Instead he will be going to kindergarten in a small class in our neighborhood where the teacher/student ratio is 10 to 1, and the mix is K-2.  We were elated to get the spot, as it seems to be just the type of environment he needs.

So Lukas will have his last day at his Pre-K Friday.  He should have a lot of fun since a pajama party is planned, along with an undisclosed movie (we are never told about them) and tons of sugary treats.  I'm sure it will get a bit on the wild side at times.

Afterwords we will clear out his cubby one last time, probably give a few hugs, then say so long...

And thanks for all the goldfish.