Little Brother started at a new pre-school yesterday. He’s three (four in October) and has actually already been attending a different nursery school for the past two years. Don’t judge me. 🙂 Anyway, yesterday was his first day at the school from which he will advance to Kindergarten.
Being a typical two-year pre-school, however, there were a number of kids attending who had never been to any sort of school before. Where Little Brother will be four in just a month, others are barely three. Where LB has attended “school” in the past, others have not yet been pushed from the safe nest called home or come out from under the hovering wings of Mommy. It can be a scary time. But, I was convinced, it wouldn’t be for my seasoned LB.
So, we’d talked about it. A lot, I guess.
Easy peasy, I said.
You got this.
You’ve already been to school.
You’re almost four.
You’ll be bigger than a lot of the other kids.
You can show ’em how it’s done.
No problem, big guy.
When we arrived at school yesterday, we were (typical) early so I brought LB to the fabulous little playground for a bit. Other nervous parents had the same idea so there were a few other little kiddos racing around. LB was happy to join them. Mothers and Fathers orbited the areas in which our offspring played — keeping close, but not too close. Giving them space but not wanting to let go too soon.
Little Brother joined another little boy in a castle play structure. After just a moment or two, I hear Little Brother’s voice from inside.
I’m bigger than you, you know.
His new classmate wouldn’t hear of it. He leans in towards LB’s face and proclaims…
No! I’M BIGGER THAN YOU!
At which point, Little Brother took both hands and shoved the kid against the back of the castle.
Awesome.
The other little boy’s mother shrieked, leaping towards the castle, scolding LB at the top of her lungs (which he deserved, by the way). Turns out LB’s victim was barely three years old. Mommy was very (understatement) nervous about sending him to school so young.
LB really knows how to pick ’em.
We all worked it out but I realized that, in my attempt to boost his confidence about his new school, I had inadvertently created a little monster.
Because now, LB was darn sure he was BIG MAN ON CAMPUS.
And proud of it.
So, my usually sweet little man, was pretty ticked off when someone tried to tell him he wasn’t “all that”.
I retold the story to Husband last night.
He listened intently while I explained my misjudgment of the three-year old psyche.
Husband’s response…
So, was he?
Me: Was he what?
The other kid. Was he bigger?
Me: Seriously? You think that’s relevant?
Yeah! Was the kid bigger than LB or not?
Me: No. He was smaller.
Good.
*sigh*
Three or thirty-three, it’s clear I will never understand the inner workings of a male mind.
Confessions of a Serial Swooper 
Not surprisingly, my 35-year-old boyfriend would give the exact same response as your husband. I’m sure of it. And thus, I love the last line you wrote! 🙂
Ha! I love that all husbands/fathers would have asked the very same question. It’s like they don’t hear the rest of the story after that.
Cracking my ass up! We don’t have boys but I can so imagine that conversation with BSD if we did. Do you think perhaps Husband was concerned that LB might have fought for an unjust cause instead? Naaahhh…he’s a male.