One of the toughest parts of Back to School is the start of school. The very first day of school. Not of the year. The very first day ever. And for the tiniest little ones … phase in can be so hard for them and for parents.  Because it’s tough to watch and it’s sad to hear them crying for you when you are told to leave the room.

Edie Falco is in the middle of phasing in her 2 ½ year old son, the same phase in process I just finished with my not quite 2 ½ year old son Luke.  She was just quoted in Cindy Adams’ <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/09182007/gossip/cindy/o_j___other_celebrity_junk.htm">New York Post</a> column talking about her phase in experience and I totally get it:
<blockquote>"It's my son's first week in school. Anderson is 2½ and starting pre-K. The way they do it now is that we're told we must sit in the classroom with our kid. I don't know how long that goes on, but right now, for me, my career these days is being mommy. So, no parties or luncheons for the moment. Anybody wants me, I'm sitting in the rear of a classroom."</blockquote>
There’s no way to explain phasing in until you go through it because it completely consumes you.  Luke’s almost 29 months old and has never been in a school setting before and while some may say “Of course he hasn’t! He’s only 2!â€, many parents here send their kids to “schoolâ€ at 2 after spending months in “classesâ€ a few mornings a week. 

So some children are well adjusted to a classroom from day one because they have been in settings like these pretty much since birth while Luke wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of mommy sitting in the class room one minute and the next minute hearing “Mommy will be back soonâ€.

But I’m happy to say, phase in is done for me. No more sitting in the classroom. No more waiting in the gym because there’s a chance I’ll have to take him home an hour after I brought him to school.

Chin up to all the parents still in the phase in process. It will be done soon. And you will never have to worry about hearing that gym door open worrying if the progress report coming in will be about your child.