Like Ripping Off A Band-Aid

Do you remember having a scraped-up knee or torn elbow? Can you remember how hard it was to take off those band aids while the wound was still healing? We would torture ourselves and oh so slowly peel back the sticky edges, pulling it as far as we could until the wound stung enough for us to wince or bring a tear to our eye, we’d let it dangle for a minute while we took a breather, then give a slightly stronger pull and a yell as our skin got pulled too and the little hairs stuck to the band aid. It was a dramatic mess and felt like an eternity. Then that confident, smart adult would wander by, offer to help, and (while we watched in utter curiosity and fascination) give one good yank, and it was off. There may have been some shock and a sharp, quick pain, but it was over and we could go on with our day.

While this may seem contra intuitive to all of your parenting instincts, this is the image to keep in mind when dropping your child off to school in the morning. Especially the preschool child who may be enjoying one of their first experiences being left at school alone. Whether your child seems anxious about separating from you, or can’t wait to get to this exciting adventure there could be some trepidation with this new routine. As teachers, we can assure you that if your child is smiling anxiously, teary, or having a full-blown emotional breakdown, once you tear yourself away and leave…it ends (for the child, we can’t promise the same for you!). Sometimes the pain of separating takes a few seconds to end, sometimes a few minutes, but like that band aid that seems excruciating to extricate, the intense pain ends immediately and your child typically joins right in. Your child knows that if you are leaving them, it’s ok. They know that if you feel good about them being there, it must be a good place to be. They are secure because you have given them the go ahead to have fun and enjoy the day. And trust us, they do!