 | I have twin daughters who are 4 1/2. They attended 3 year old preschool last year with no problems. They cried a little the first day, but after that, they went each and every day happily and with no tears. I thought 4 year old preschool would go well since they had a whole year under their belt. Not so.
This year, we changed to a new preschool. In September, my one daughter couldn't even talk about school without crying. She would cry when I would drop her off and when I'd pick her up. It was so unusual to me since they did so well last year. We made great progress (I think) as she is now able to talk about school without crying and seems to enjoy it. The day my first daughter stopped crying, her sister picked right up where she left off and began this crying behavior (beginning of November).
Now, they both consistently cry when I pick them up (and sometimes when I drop them off). I have tried to reassure them until I was blue in the face. We have tried giving them something of mine to hold, having a special celebration on good days, role playing, etc. The finally told me that they are afraid that they'll have to stay at school and won't be able to go home (I've never been late picking them up). At their old preschool, each parent would meet the kids at the door to go home; at the new preschool, the kids have to wait in the lobby and the car pulls up to the door and then that child can leave (meaning that if you aren't the first or second car, the kids can't see you since you are in line somewhere). I've been meeting them at the door because they can't handle waiting for me to pull up - I think they get so anxious waiting to leave that they start crying. The teacher also does something at the end of the day like, "Whoever has an S in their name can get their backpack" - and if they have to sit there, they get anxious that they'll never leave (just like gym class when they pick teams, remember that?). Otherwise, they behave well and do their work -it's just this going home thing.
I am so frustrated since I cheerlead and pump them up all weekend, feel confident that "this will be the day of no crying", and then it all falls apart and they cry.
I guess what I'm looking for is . . .
1. Has anyone had this experience?? I feel like I have the only kids who cry when it's time to go home.
2. Does it ever end?? I don't want to get involved with a therapist since, technically, they aren't even supposed to be in school at this age, and perhaps this will change with age and maturity; I really don't want to stress them out further if this is a developmental stage.
3. Anyone have any good resources to read on this? I am anxious about what this may do to them in kindergarten (although they talk about how they can't wait to be 5 so they can ride the school bus and go to kindergarten).
Thanks for letting me vent. |
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