The first thing I noticed when his group walked across the stage was that he was the only kid not wearing his graduation hat. He's been talking about wearing that stupid hat for weeks (and once we were home from graduation, I couldn't get him to take it off), but during the actual ceremony, one of the teachers dutifully carried Perrin's hat for him because he had made up his mind and simply was NOT going to wear it. End of that story.
The next thing I noticed was that Perrin couldn't find us in the audience at first. We were sitting right up front waving, but his eyes scanned the crowds while his group solemnly filed in. He finally noticed us and in his excitement boomed out, "Oh! Hi, mom! Hi, dad!" Everyone cracked up. I hope it endeared him a little to the audience because his later antics might not have been quite as well appreciated.
Then Brielle's class of 2 and 3 year-olds came in and sat on the stage steps in front of the graduates. They sang a few songs and rang bells. Sooooo stinking cute! Brielle told me before the graduation that she was going to wear a pretty dress and sing and dance and turn into a fairy. Although that wasn't exactly what happened, it was very sweet and entertaining. Then she came and sat with us for the remainder of the graduation.
Next, Perrin's class did the pledge of allegiance and a few songs with hand motions. A couple more observations: Perrin is tall. He towered over a couple of the other kids standing near him. Also: Perrin would rather make silly faces and stomp his feet and climb up the podium and spin in circles than stand in a line and sing with the rest of his well-behaved classmates. His good friend Zaedi was standing beside him and tried to keep him in line, but he was pretty determined to be a class clown. I kept trying to catch his attention to get him to cut it out, but alas. Who knows how many of his friends' videos and pictures he'll be in, the goofy kid in the background with no hat... and the ONLY kid not participating the way he was supposed to.
Next the teachers went down the line and asked each kid what they liked best about school. They all had such sweet answers: playing, or snack time, or the home center, or dressing up. I was cringing as they got closer and closer to Perrin because I know my son well enough to know that this wasn't going to be a beautiful Kodak moment. I was right. At first he stepped way back and refused to answer. The teacher was about to pass him up and mentioned something about Perrin enjoying the block center this year. Perrin finally stepped up and responded, "No I don't! I like being at home the best!"
Then it was time for the kids to walk across the stage and receive their preschool certificates. When they called Perrin's name, they introduced him and said he liked eating candy and playing with trains and wanted to be a train driver when he grew up. The preschool director gave him a hug (Perrin gave her a grunt), and said, "Spunky Perrin!" Again, that's probably the nice way of putting it.
Perrin's teacher was very sweet to tell me later that night that preschool kids are more fun to watch when there's at least one class clown to keep things lively. I hope the other parents and kids thought it was amusing rather than wondering what pitiful parents would allow their child to behave so wildly. Perrin has been this way his whole life--even when I used to take him to baby story time at the library before he was walking. I used to envy the other parents who had sweet little babies who stayed where their parents put them and clapped along with the songs. Even then, Perrin was a non-conformist. That should have given me a clue. It's as if in any situation we're in, he thinks about how he's expected to do something and he purposefully does exactly the opposite.
Although it makes situations like preschool graduation a little more embarrassing, I also have to remind myself that his personality is a gift. He definitely marches to the beat of his own accordion. And I think his independent spirit can someday be harnessed and nurtured into leadership potential and help him to make wise and innovative decisions instead of simply following the crowd.
I'm immensely proud of my little preschool graduate. Granted, he needs some discipline and guidance. And although I feel totally inadequate to tame my little fireball, I'm committed to doing my best to love him well, notice his strengths, and encourage him to use his powers for good and not evil.
Congratulations, preschool class of 2015!
