School starts for the little guy

(Above) Mateo brushes his teeth in prepartion for the first day of preschool

This week was the first full week of school for Northwest as most of you know. Tuesday was my son Mateo's first day of preschool. This is his first, small step towards independence.

I don't see preschool as dramatic as maybe going to school all day. But any move away from being under-wing is emotional. Like most guys, I managed to keep tears from taking over. I've got confidence in him, but I don't want to take anything for granted.

My goal is to be a good care taker of him. I see him as being like a little brother to care for. I'm always a little worried about the way cars race through Crestview after the high school gets out.

I read several weeks ago that Britney Spears mother killed a 12-year-old boy who was riding his bike when she's was a young adult. Apparently, Britney's mother came around a blind curve and hit him. A story like that tends to make me worry anyone who's not really paying attention.

While on vacation this summer, my brother-in-law's parked rental car was totaled when a driver wasn't paying attention. Imagine if they'd been standing near the car? Imagine if it had been a child playing in the street?
The reason any parent worries is because we see our children as extension of ourselves. And we learn from our kids. They make us better people. I learn from Mateo by the interests my wife cultivates in him. Last weekend we took a trip to St. Joseph because I had a craving for Chipotle. It also gave us a chance to buy Mateo a Thomas the Train.

Now, I don't care for Thomas myself. I like the trains but the faces on them creep me out a little. Actually, Mateo watches "Cars" a lot and I prefer that to Thomas. Perhaps it's a difference in the pace of the programs. Thomas is a little slower and Cars is a little faster.

The train set is a good skill for him to learn mechanical skills. He's played with Legos from time to time as well. His interest in mechanics proved to be a good way to get him tuned into the classroom as well.

Prior to the first week, Horace Mann hosted two open house nights. At open house Mateo became totally fascinated with a marble tower. When I said "bye bye" on Tuesday, he said "mon" as in "come on." Like a little brother, he wanted me to stay and play. I felt bad because I don't get to do that a lot. Remembering how much he liked the marble tower, I asked Mrs. Creason for a marble and got him focused on the tower, below.