Today was my son's first day of school.

We use the word 'school' loosely as I'm not sure a 2-year old goes to school. Frankly, when most of your day is playing and napping, one might not call it 'school' - not until at least First Grade - oh, all right - maybe Kindergarten.

But if I remember correctly (it was awhile ago) there's still some napping going on in Kindergarten - and plenty of playing. And if you add in drinking, well then, now you've got college. Really, 'school' at two is just a word for parents to use who are in denial that they are actually putting their kids in daycare. And, frankly, that would be this parent.

So 'school' went surprisingly well for us. Perhaps too well for mommy's ego. It's supposed to be a 9 am-3 pm day. Mommy decided that was a bit too long for the first time away from the apron strings as the only time he had been away was with Nana, Grandma or Grandpa.

In true Hoffer style, we were late. Big shocker. There was some method to the madness - figuring 12 kids arriving at 9 am on the first day would be overwhelming, crying would beget crying in others, so we lollygagged in around 10 am to avoid the rush and because we weren't anywhere near ready by 9 am anyway.

At the school Open House a week earlier my son was so shy and reserved he all but climbed back into the womb. Imagine my surprise when the drop off was a breeze.

We walked in the door, he ran for the playground and jumped in a toy car. "Well, I'll see you later... Bye sweetie... Bye honey.... Love bug??" No response. I was torn about leaving. When he realized mommy was gone, would he feel abandoned? Ummm... no.

The next two and half hours I paced the house, waiting for the call "You must come pick up your son, he's hysterical." It never came. I considered calling the school, perhaps they couldn't read my writing and since we're unlisted, they were probably frantically trying to track me down.

I went to pick up my son at 12:30 after lunch and before naptime since he really wasn't ready for a full day away from mommy.

He was lying on his mat ready to nap. I didn't think this would be possible. This child really likes his routines and his bed. How would he sleep in a room full of kids? But he was there and very content - even on a foreign blue mat - the only one without a crib sheet - the sheet that his mommy forgot to pack. (Do they keep a file on parents, marking demerits for every bad mommy move?)

As we packed up, his teacher said he was a very happy little boy. I said jokingly, "yea, he probably didn't even notice that I'd left!" "Umm, no he didn't," she replied, looking kind of sorry for me.

We walked out - or rather - I dragged my son out of 'school', screaming at the top of his lungs about not wanting to leave and the teacher handed me his progress report.

This was not how it was supposed to work, everyone explained to me that children cry as you leave them, but minutes later recover and are fine until you return and are ecstatic to see you.

My sister, with her early childhood education, tried to make me feel better saying, "kids who are comfortable with parents leaving are confident that they will return, so it's a good sign." Feeling better though was fleeting. "But then," she added, "they should be happy to see you when you pick them up."

After sumo wrestling him into his car seat and promising that yes, we would return, and yes, next time he could nap at school, I was pleased to read on his card that he was well-behaved. But shocked to read that he was 'quiet'. This kid who talks from the moment he awakens until o-dark-thirty, hours after his lights are turned out was quiet? And, apparently he was loving 'school'.

Not only is my son going for the full day next week, now we're discussing the possibility of adding a second day to his week. But I'm not sure he, oh alright, I'm not sure mommy is ready for that just yet.