"I don't want to go to school," Allison whined.
"Ali come on," Teddy coaxed, "we're just going to go see the classroom and meet your teacher. You don't go to school until September. We're just taking a look."
"But I want to stay at the hospital with you," Allison said, "Ellie and Catrina get to stay with their mamas."
"Ellie is one and Catrina is 9 months," Teddy said, "you are 5. You were so jealous last year when Leo went to school. Don't you want to go to school with Leo?"
"I want to stay with you," Allison whined, "when I go to school you can't come give me hugs at lunch and eat with me. And Annie won't come cuddle me and Ellie and Catrina and read stories. Daddy can't come and colour with me."
"We've been really lucky to have that," Teddy said, "and you'll still do that on school breaks. Allison you get to spend all day with friends. And your teacher will read to you."
"But you're not there," Allison said, "what if I have a bad day and need a hug?"
"Then I will give you one as soon as I see you," Teddy promised.
"What if I get sick," Allison asked.
"Then they call and we come and get you," Teddy promised.
"Mama do I have to go to school," Allison asked, "then I have to do homework."
"Only reading," Teddy said, "and daddy and I will read with you."
"But I want to stay at the hospital with you," Allison said.
"I know you've always come with us to work," Teddy said, "I'm going to miss having you right there two."
"You'll spend more time with Ellie and Catrina then me," Allison argued.
"I won't go to daycare as much without you there," Teddy said, "I have no reason to because my Ali Bean isn't there."
"Do I have to," Allison asked, "Can't Miss Sheena teach me?"
"You are going to school," Teddy said, "that's not a choice. It's your job to go to school. Let's go in and meet your teacher and the other kids."
"No," Allison said sitting on the sidewalk.
Teddy debated what to do, she could easily pick Allison up and carry her inside but that would traumatize the head strong little girl. Allison was her father's daughter, Teddy thought the only thing from her side of the family was the eyes and love of snow. Allison needed to be convinced to do things with good reason, she didn't bend easily and once she made up her mind that was it.
"Let's sit on this bench for 5 minutes," Teddy said, "then we have to go in. I'm setting the timer on my phone."
"Fine," Allison grumbled.
Teddy sat on the bench and showed Allison the timer on her phone, "I'm starting it now. It's your choice to sit there or sit with me. When this timer goes off we are going into the school."
Allison saw the timer start and went to sit in Teddy's lap.
"Are you nervous," Teddy asked.
"I don't know anyone," Allison cried.
"Neither do I," Teddy said, "we're going to go in there and introduce ourselves and you're going to play with other boys and girls."
"You're not there," Allison cried hiding her fave in Teddy's shoulder.
"I am today," Teddy said, "and I'm going to adjust dad and my schedule so one of us can pick up or drop off every day. Allison you're going to have so much fun baby girl."
"I want to stay with you," Allison sobbed.
Teddy wondered if Allison having always been at the hospital daycare was a good call, when they worked overnight she had always been with family. Allison hadn't spent time away from family. Owen sat by the pool during swimming lessons, Teddy was in the studio building for highland, they both watched soccer games. If they couldn't make it Evelyn, Meghan, Nathan, Annie and Josh went. Allison always had family around to make her feel loved and safe.
"This is the first time you wont have an adult you know in the same building," Teddy said rubbing Allison's back.
"I don't like it," Allison cried.
"It will feel funny at first but give it a week or two and you won't even notice were not here," Teddy said.
"What if you forget me," Allison asked.
"Allison Eloise Altman Hunt we will never forget you," Teddy promised, "you know daddy and I always come for you."
"What if you're in surgery," Allison asked.
"Then we tell Nana we need her help and nana comes," Teddy promised, "or Annie, Josh, Auntie Meghan,Uncle Nathan. Jenna isn't working for a few months to spend time with Tyler and she said she would help if we needed her and Chris said he would come. Allison you have lots of people who love you and will come."
"What if they don't," Allison asked, "Leo's other mom left him and you left Annie."
"I will always come for you baby girl and I will never leave my kids. I love you too much," Teddy promised, "I didn't want to see Annie go but I had to so she could be happy. Allison you have nothing to worry about. You know people here, Harriett goes here Leo is here. Leo Will be right next door. They're all in the bigger grades. You're not alone."
"I'm scared," Allison said.
"I know," Teddy soothed, "let's go in together. Look at mama."
"I don't want to," Allison said.
"We have to," Teddy said, "we're going to go meet your teacher. Miss Younger is waiting to meet you."
"Is she nice," Allison asked.
"She's going to be very nice," Teddy promised, "let's go say hi and look around the room. I think there will be lots of toys to play with."
"What type of toys," Allison asked.
"Blocks, dolls, a kitchen," Teddy said.
"Can we paint," Allison asked.
"Maybe not today but you'll paint in kindergarten," Teddy said, "and do crafts."
"Really," Allison asked, perking up.
"Really," Teddy promised, "should we go look?"
"Are you coming," Allison asked.
"I am," Teddy said.
"Why didn't daddy come," Allison asked.
"Daddy is in surgery," Teddy said, "he really wanted to come bean. He was so disappointed. We're going to do this then go back to the hospital and you can tell him all about it."
"Will you take pictures to show him," Allison asked.
"I will," Teddy smiled.
Teddy lifted Allison off her lap and set her on her feet. Teddy stood and took Allison's hand. Together they walked into the school and signed in at the main office. They followed the signs down the hall to the classroom that would be Allison's for first and second grade. Teddy liked that the school kept students in the same class and with the same teacher for two years so the teachers got to know her kids.
At the classroom door a blonde woman who appeared to be about thirty crouched down to greet Allison. The woman was wearing black pants and a bright blue top with a huge smile. The teacher looked genuinely excited to meet the kids.
"Hello," Miss Younger greeted, "I'm Miss Younger. What's your name?"
"Allison Eloise Altman-Hunt," Allison answered.
"It's nice to meet you Allison," Miss Younger smiled, "who did you bring with you today?"
"My mama," Allison answered.
"Allison would you like to go find something to play with," Miss Younger asked, "there's playdough, blocks, lego, the house center, animals, cars, and the water table is open."
"Can I play playdough," Allison asked.
"You can," Miss Younger smiled, "it's on the first table."
"Yay," Allison yelled letting go of Teddy's hand and dashing to the table with large containers of playdough and a wide array of rolling pins and cookie cutters.
The teacher stood up and greeted Teddy, "I'm Tessa Younger."
"Teddy Altman," Teddy greeted.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs Altman," Miss Younger smiled.
"It's dr Altman but I prefer Teddy," Teddy replied, "have you been here long?"
"This is my second year here so I've had one cycle through," Miss Younger replied, "I have some forms for you to fill out."
"Can I take these home and do these with my husband," Teddy asked, "our son is in kinder this year with Miss Charlton. We will return them when we drop off or pick up Leo."
"Of course," Miss Younger smiled, "Allison has an older brother."
"And an older sister, Annie is 30," Teddy replied, "there's 25 years between the girls. My oldest is the first emergency contact after my husband and myself."
"Do you have a large family," Miss Younger asked.
"Three children, a son in law and granddaughter," Teddy smiled, "then my husband's sister, her husband and their children. There's not a lot of us but we're very close."
"What do you and your husband do for work," Miss Younger asked.
"We're both surgeons," Teddy replied, she could see the teacher was nervous and decided to leave out the details of her position, "at Grey Sloan."
"Has Allison had a lot of time with other children her age," Miss Younger asked.
"She's been in daycare at Grey Sloan since she was 4 months old," Teddy replied, "it's been a fairly consistent group of children and staff. They have a good preschool program and all staff are fully certified either as early childhood educators or teachers. She is used to me popping into daycare to give her a hug when I get a break or her dad. My oldest and her husband both work at the hospital so Allison is also used to Annie and Josh going to see their daughter and giving Allison a quick hug and hello as well."
"So some separation anxiety," Miss Younger asked.
"Possibly," Teddy agreed.
"Has she always had your self, her dad and older siblings in the building," Miss Younger asked.
"Her aunt and uncle as well," Teddy said, "she has a nine month old cousin so my sister in law also goes to see her baby and then says hi to Allison."
"She's been lucky to have you all so close," Miss Younger smiled.
"I've loved having her there," Teddy said, "it's going to be hard for both of us. She's my youngest. I've babied her for too long."
"It's typical with the youngest," Miss Younger acknowledged.
"My older two are shy and introverted so it could just be that," Teddy said, "Allison is the outgoing one."
Another family was coming in and the teacher turned to greet them. Teddy met Allison at the playdough table she noticed the little girl had a lump of red playdough.
"What are you making," Teddy asked.
"A broken heart for you to fix," Allison said.
"Why," Teddy asked crouching next to the child sized table.
"So you can stay here," Allison said.
"I'm staying with you for the whole two hours today," Teddy said, "I won't leave the room."
"Promise," Allison asked.
"Why are you nervous," Teddy asked.
"Because you're always just down the hall at daycare," Allison said.
"Now I'm just down the road," Teddy promised, "what if when you come to school in the fall we put a picture of our family in your backpack?"
"Okay," Allison agreed.
"Dr Altman," a woman greeted.
"Hi," Teddy replied she didn't recognize the woman.
"You did my dad's bypass last year," the woman said, hoping to jog Teddy's memory.
"I don't discuss patients out of the hospital," Teddy said , "what's your name?"
"Olivia," the woman said, "what brings you here?"
"My daughter is starting kindergarten," Teddy said, "what about you?"
"My son," Olivia replied, "I thought you said the pregnant dr Altman was your daughter."
"My oldest," Teddy said, "Allison is my youngest."
"Quite the age gap," Olivia said.
"25 years," Teddy, "said, "have the first in med school build a career then have the younger two."
"You have another child younger than kindergarten," Olivia asked.
"No Leo is going into first grade," Teddy smiled, "do you have other children?"
"No," Olivia said, "one is plenty for us. I can't believe you have three."
"One then the others 24 years later," Teddy said, "after you get the first through medical school."
"Two seems more doable," Olivia replied, "but you have one in kinder, one in first and you must have a grandchild by now."
"My granddaughter is one," Teddy said, "is your son excited for kinder?"
"He's nervous," Olivia said, "I run a daycare out of our house so he's always been home with me."
"It's hard to leave them," Teddy agreed, "more for us then for them."
"I know I tell my parents the same thing," Olivia said.
"Mama," Allison said, "can you fix the heart?"
"What's wrong with it," Teddy asked, kneeling back beside Allison.
"There's a hole in it," Allison said, "look mama it has a big hole."
"That is a big hole," Teddy agreed, "dr Altman Hunt what can we fix it with?"
"String," Allison said.
"I don't see any on the table, could we patch it," Teddy suggested.
"Blue patch," Allison said.
"Roll it out nice and thin for me," Teddy encouraged.
The teacher was watching the way Teddy played with Allison as they had a pretend heart surgery with playdough. Teddy's phone had been away the whole time while the other moms had been taking photos of their child's every move. Teddy was talking to and playing with her child.
"Can I get everybody on the carpet for a story," Miss Younger asked.
"Allison let's put this in the container so it doesn't dry out," Teddy said, helping Allison to tidy up.
Again the teacher observed the room, which children tidied up, which parents helped and encouraged.
"Mama will it be a good story," Allison asked.
"Miss Younger will pick good stories," Teddy said.
"Like Annie," Allison asked.
"I think so," Teddy said, "I know Annie has a special story for you today."
"Really can we read it," Allison asked.
"We're going to have dinner with them so you can wait until you see her," Teddy said, "where do you want to sit for the story?"
"Carpet," Allison said.
"Then pick a spot," Teddy encouraged, "do you want the letter A for Allison."
"Can you sit with me," Allison asked.
"Then we have to sit at the back so we don't block anyone's view," Teddy said.
"Okay," Allison agreed.
Teddy took a seat on the back edge of the carpet and Allison crawled into her lap to listen intently to the story.
They spent the rest of the afternoon in the kindergarten room playing and talking to other families. When the time was up Allison didn't want to leave and was looking forward to school in the fall.