What happens in Preschool, Stays in Preschool.

Tiernan has been attending preschool since January. The long national nightmare of potty training ended and the mind-shaping, letter-learning of preschool began. He loves it. He goes three-days a-week for 2 1/2 hours. Loves his teacher. Loves the other kids. Loves it. Loves it. Loves it. The teacher loves him and the other kids like him. It is one big love-feast.
I drop him off and he doesn't look back. He gets a big welcome from one of his female classmates (hug included) and he's in his preschool world. Everyday I pick him up and ask, "Hey buddy, what did you do in school today?" and I am struck with silence. Nothing.
"Hey Tiernan, what did you do in school today? Did you learn a new number or letter?"
His response is, "Ummmm. I don't remember."
"Did you play with any other kids in school today?"
"Ummm....yes."
"Who?"
"I.....dunno."
This has lead me to ask his teacher, Miss Rosalie, for a list of his classmates, so I can further explore what happens at school.
"Did you play with Logan or Jasmine today?"
"Yes."
"What did you play?"
"Oh Daddy.... I don't remember."
This leads me to ask Miss Rosalie (Tiernan pronounces it "Mit Rodaly") if it is normal for him not to remember or not talk about school. She assures me that it is tough for little guys like him to properly express themselves sometimes. And I can get behind that. I have seem him struggle to find the words to make a point a home. He is only 3.
And it is even worse when he knows what words he wants to say, but has trouble enunciating them. And I spend 10 minutes asking him to repeat himself. "Try it again slowly this time, Tiernan."
"I wanna doo utdise and paym purpall myt Toll."
"I am sorry Tiernan, please try to tell me again what you want to do?"
"I want to go ubpice and play bursball myst Toll"
"You want to play purple myst. What is purple myst? Is that a game you play at school?"
"No. I want to go outice and play bawsball mit Cold."
"I am really sorry, T. I know you are trying your best. But, I just can't understand. I know it's frustrating, don't get upset. Try again."
"I want to go outsise and play purseball with Cole."
"You want to go outside and play with your friend Cole?"
"Yeah, and pay btasteball."
"Oh, you want to go outside and play baseball with Cole. Great, I will see if Cole wants to play."
It is just hard for little guys and gals to express themselves.
However, that seems to get easier for Tiernan in the presence of a beautiful girl.
Case in point; over the Easter weekend we were at a country club celebrating Easter with my wife's extensive (10 aunts and uncles, 21 cousins) family.
Of all those folks,Tiernan is the first cousin of the next generation. He was the first new baby in 15 or so years. As a result, he gets a bunch of attention, especially when he is dressed, as he was Easter Saturday, in an adorable little searsucker suit. The kid looked great.
We are at the celebration mingling with the family. And I realize that I haven't seen Tiernan in a while, so I start looking for him. I find him, sitting at the bar drinking a cocktail (a Horse's Neck, which is a Shirley Temple with a cooler name) with my wife's cousin Stephanie -- a very big fan of Tiernan's and a very beautiful blonde.
I walk up and ask where he's been and he tells me he's been with Stephanie.
And Stephanie tells that Tiernan has been telling her all about school. Yes, he told the beautiful girl all about Miss Rosalie and his friends Logan and Jasmine and the numbers he's learned, and how he's learning to hold a crayon and write his ABCs.
The whole incident has taught me a thing or two: What happens in preschool, stays in preschool, unless there is a pretty blonde asking. Or if you bring my boy to a bar and give him a couple of drinks he'll tell you anything you want to know.