One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

So--I mentioned MJ has had a rough time with the school drop-off thing. We made a bit of progress last Friday. This morning, I had a Parent Association meeting at her school, so I had to go in. I asked her if she wanted me to walk her to her class...from the office, outside, down a path with stairs to her building. The children walk alone or together each morning. She said she would wait outside on a bench for a friend. I was SO PROUD that she didn't want me to take her. Major. Progress. My meeting was actually in the same general direction, so I watched through a window as she waited. Another child from her class came along, and MJ got up to walk with her to class. When they had been out of view for a few minutes, I went out myself to get to my meeting. Out the door, down the path, down the stairs...then I saw her. Marlee was sitting outside her classroom door, sobbing.

Turns out she had stopped to visit her class garden, and the other child (who was older--the class is 3-6 year olds) had gone ahead to class. When Marlee finished in the garden she pulled the door to her room, only to find she couldn't open it...it was too heavy. So she freaked out a bit and sat down and cried. I held her for a while, then took her in to see her teacher. Ms. Dixie gave her a hug, and they talked about what she could do if that happened again. Apparently she had a great day after that, but I'm wondering what is going to happen at drop of tomorrow.

Oh, and all this happened the same morning I dropped Eloise off for her first day of drop-in playcare. I was an emotional wreck. They are both fine. Par for the course in Mommyland.

Edited to add-- The entire campus of Marlee's school is very securely enclosed. It's not like the kids just wander around in the open. The idea of them walking themselves to class is all part of the Montessori philosophy of fostering independence and being in control of your own education :)