What I Learned After Sending Four Toddlers to Preschool

School starts in just a few weeks, which means a lot of moms are getting ready to send their toddler to preschool for the very first time. And I know that even when you are excited about it, it can still feel really emotional.

All four of my kids have gone to the same preschool, and I genuinely cannot say enough wonderful things about it. We love our preschool. We love the teachers. Every single one of my kids has been so loved, cared for, and completely known there. They have made friends, learned so much, grown in confidence, and truly thrived. Sending them there has been one of the best decisions we have made for our family.

**A quick note because I know preschool can mean different things depending on where you live: Most preschool programs begin at age two. Some schools also offer a toddler program for children who are one before the school year starts. It is still a three-hour preschool program, even if the school calls it something different. Some call it preschool. Some call it a toddler program. Some call it Mother’s Day Out. I am talking about that same general setup: a few mornings a week, for three hours, in a classroom with teachers and other children.

And even with all of that confidence, I have still felt anxious before the first day. You can know that your child is going somewhere safe, loving, and wonderful and still feel a pit in your stomach when you think about handing your toddler to someone else and walking away. Both things can be true.

It is normal to feel anxious or sad. It is also normal for your toddler to have a hard time at drop-off for the first couple of weeks. That does not mean they hate school. It does not mean they are not ready. It does not mean you made the wrong decision. It means they are a toddler, they love you, and separating from you is new.