It's a long time.

About 5:20 my second to the last child was picked up.
I only had Stevie left, he alternated between playing with the Bionicles and coming over to me to ask how long until his mommy would be there.
"Can I tell you suthin?" No 'L' in his pronunciation.
And 'can I' comes out more like 'ki'.
"Ki teu u suthin"

He's just LITTLE.
"What's up, Buddy?"
"Um, Iwuvmymommynshewuvsmeandwillbeheresoonokay?"
Translation...  "Um I love my mommy and she loves me. And will be here soon, okay?"

I told him to watch the big hand on our clock. Explained that she would indeed be there soon, and that by the time the big hand gets to the top, she would probably be there.
I tried giving him different things to do/engaging him in conversation, but he wasn't able to focus very long. He's not a great conversationalist anyway, he can't stick to a topic at all. I tried talking about his teacher. She's one of the nicest people there, most of my kids have had her as their K teacher.
"You have Mrs. B as your teacher, don't you? Is your class fun?"
"I WUV him!!" Stevie exclaimed.
"What do you do in your class? Do you sing songs?"

He began singing his ABC's. Wandered away, still singing.

Listening to him talk... it's adorable but it's also a little frustrating.

He's very difficult to understand, I don't think he has a speech impediment, he is just delayed with verbal skills. I can't help thinking he's a sweet little guy... and he brings out the maternal in me. All he wants in life is to hang out with his mom. He cries every day when she brings him to school. He misses her all day long. He misses her even in the middle of LEGO and Bionicles and art supplies and toys and playing outside and having snacks.

I kept track today. He came to me eleven times to tell me he really, really loves his mommy and she loves him SO MUCH and she will be here very soon and I love my mommy...

He was ready to go home. It is such a long day for a little person, and Stevie is emotionally immature and not ready to be in school and day care for so long.

I feel so bad for the little guy. There isn't a lot I can do to help him other than what I do already. I provide a hug when he asks for one. I tell him hi cheerfully when he arrives in the afternoon. I wave at him when his class passes in the hallway as I'm wandering around. I find different things for him to do.

Usually when a child is the last one there, we have a lot to talk about. The kids like the one on one time. They're different when there aren't other kids there. Calmer. I get to know them a little better.

The other kids are making an effort to be kind to him.
We have talked as a group about kindness.
And making a conscious effort to BE kind, even when we're crabby after a long day or we aren't friends when someone approaches us to play. I have good kids (I really think all kids are good) and they really do listen and try to be kind. They are pretty good to each other for the most part.

But nobody is K age except for Ellie, and she's not only a year older than he is, she's precocious. NOTHING in common.

He's lonely in the middle of a group of 14 kids.
Alone.

I wish Stevie were a little older, I think he'd find it easier to relate to the other kids, and they to him.

Such a long day. It's so hard for that little boy to be away from his mom all day. All he thinks about is when he can see her again. He squeals, "MOMMY!!!" when she comes to get him. He runs to her and hugs her and kisses her face. She is happy to see him, too.

I'm glad that I'm sensitive enough to see that Stevie needs extra attention from me. Stevie's mom loves him and misses him when she's away from him. It's quite obvious. I'm sure it's a long day for her, too.

I just wish I could fast forward him a little bit.
It makes me sad that his little heart misses his mommy so much all day long.
It must seem like an eternity to him.