Faint Whispers...

Even parents have to grow up sometimes and we decided we were ready to have Cooper leave the exclusive confines of our home to experience a world beyond ours.

And so around his 3rd birthday we began to investigate preschools. We were looking for something that felt like home--not too much pressure--an emphasis on fun, but certainly experience expanding. We found it in a small caring preschool run by two women who looked and acted suspiciously like Grammy. Here was a place we could feel comfortable leaving our child --for a limited period of time and with more than occasional involvement. (We did so well on the involvement part that the teachers still recall my husband as fondly and as proudly as my kids.)

Cooper cried for months when we dropped him off but often recovered by the time we were out the door. He seemed comfortable with the adults and children and fell into the rhythm of routine. He enjoyed building with any materials on hand, drawing, story time, and dress up.

His teachers were very fond of him and treated him lovingly. The school felt more like a family with each child accepted and embraced as a member. And like all good grandmothers, idiosyncrasies were put up with, sometimes mildly rebuked, and ultimately fed with a cookie and a hug.

We received some gentle feedback. Cooper was often frightened of things that were new to him. He had a very hard time with the school photographer on picture day. He was shy and often engaged in companion play rather than true involvement. He was happiest doing his own thing and often had to be persuaded to join circle time or a learning activity. He was very reluctant to share with the group.

None of the information caused us great concern. Perhaps in retrospect, we should have paid closer attention. We should have heard the faint whispers of challenges to come.

But for now we were content with Cooper's preschool experience. He was shy and a little reluctant but he had made friends. We had made friends--some we would count on as our best friends and remain with us today. These are the people we came to count on as trusted advisors, allies, and advocates who knew Cooper from the beginning.

Cooper graduated from three years of preschool in a cap and gown no less. He participated in the festivities and received the "Most Creative" Award. Some of the kids he met here would stay with Cooper as he moved on.