"There's been a lot of stories about how I got to be called Duke. One was that I played the part of a duke in a school play--which I never did. Sometimes, they even said I was descended from royalty! It was all a lot of rubbish. Hell, the truth is that I was named after a dog!" John Wayne

September 24^th:  Happy Duke’s first day of Pre-K, I’ve been looking forward to and dreading this day for months. It’s a change so I’m anxious because I have loved his therapists, who have been with him the past year, and love the structure that Michelle gives him with Day Care. It’s not for a lack of information or comfort, it’s a change, it’s new, and I’m an anxious person. 

 

            Duke was ready today with his cute dark jeans, “I’m the Real Deal” Shirt, hair parted very neatly and Superman Back pack. Michelle and I walked to where he was suppose to be picked up at the "bus stop".........15 minutes after the pick up time....no bus. So I took Duke to school and on the way called to let them know he was late, the school said they knew, the bus had a sub and it was running a half an hour late (there's more to that story, but I'm not getting into it).

            So Duke and I got into school, Duke ran down the hall like this was HIS SCHOOL and he was the boss. The teachers were there to meet him and started teaching him his school routine of putting up his jacket and back pack in his area. They got him in and I was good, no tears he was as I expected there and good, not clingy or asking for me, he leaves that for when we are home.

            A few hours later I got to work at get the message from Michelle, that the bus drove by the house for Duke's pick up...and down the street to drop him off at someone else's house. I want to die, throw up and scream in unison. Die because I feel terrible that Michelle had to take all the kids from daycare down the street to get Duke; throw up because of the thought of my 3 year old being somewhere He and I don't know; and scream because this wasn't the plan....and he's 3. So what do I do.....I call the director of transportation for the county.....and expressed firmly I am not pleased and he needs to be picked up and dropped off at daycare. Now he is being picked up and dropped off at day care, and if it doesn't happen again tomorrow....I will Not Be Pleased.

            Later in the afternoon I got a text from Duke's Teacher about how good he was in school today and that he was very interactive. Getting on the bus was a bit of a struggle, but she worked with him and hugged him to help him feel more comfortable, and now I am calm. Duke trusts her enough to let her comfort him, that's a step in a good direction because he will need that as he learns new things and fights the system. With that I am good and feeling content with the day.