Baby Tree: Prince George's first day of school is adorable, of course (photos!)

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

What did you on your child's first day of school?

If you're anything like me, you probably shed a tear or two over the fact that your baby is growing up... and then went ahead and clogged up your friends' and family's Facebook feeds with adorable photos of the big day.

Well, it turns out the Duchess of Cambridge's maternal instincts are much like ours. Kate shared these very sweet photos of her 2 1/2-year-old son George's very first day of preschool on The British Monarchy's Facebook page this morning.

Photo: The British Monarchy

"Prince George arrives for his first day at Westacre Montessori School nursery in Norfolk earlier today," reads the caption of the super cute shots, which show little George sporting a quilted jacket and sky blue backpack. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released these two photographs to mark the occasion. They show Prince George standing in front of the mural on the outside of the nursery building."

Those curls! Those cheeks! What a little munchkin! And isn't he starting to look like his dad, Prince William?

Hello! magazine notes that Prince George is following in his father's footsteps by attending a Montessori school. Before the late Princess Diana decided to send her boys William and Harry off to preschool, the royal tradition had been to begin their schooling at home. Her own work as a nursery assistant at the Young England Kindergarten school likely inspired Diana's groundbreaking choice.

Based on the teachings of Italian educator and physician Maria Montessori, the Montessori philosophy "put[s] an emphasis on a child's independence, freedom and social development. Instead of being confined to traditional classroom restraints, Montessori children are encouraged to learn through play and develop at their own pace."

Sending my kids off to school was - and still is, actually - bittersweet for me. On the one hand it's so fun to watch them take a tiny step into their own little world. They develop friendships, explore, discover. On the other, my heart aches a bit to see them growing up.

I guess that's the paradox of parenthood, though. You spend so much time wanting them to be independent, but then it kind of breaks your heart when it happens.

Some of our favorite photos of Kate, William and the kids...