But I'm sending my little boy away!!
I never thought I'd feel so sad about this!! It's such a win-win situation, but I feel so awful about it!!I guess I just need to keep repeating what one of my best friends told me the other day (Brittany, I hope you don't mind me sharing):
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I know what you mean. All too well. I had to leave Olivia when she was just 6 weeks old to caregivers. It was so, so hard for the first 6 or 7 months, I won't lie. But I'm okay with it now. I think where you will feel okay with it, like I did, is when Matt comes home and is so very excited to see Mommy, and he gets this huge smile on his face because he hasn't forgotten you or replaced you with someone else. Think of it this way. You are, actually, providing both kids with what they need. Matt is an active toddler now and needs to get his energy out, supervised. Jillian is still a needy infant. So, by Matt going to play with friends twice a week, you are giving him the freedom and activity he needs to flourish, as well as giving Jillian the one on one time she needs. It's actually quite beautiful. Because when you think about it, Matt was your first born so he got you all to himself. Jillian, as teeny as she is, never has just gotten Mommy time. So you are blessed to be able to have raised a smart and friendly toddler who will love his time to play with some friends for a little while during the day while you get to spend uninterrupted bonding time with your daughter. And don't forget, just because he goes to visit some friends twice a week to play, you will still have him to yourself to play as well. You are providing Matt with more emotionally, physically, and mentally than anyone else ever could because you are Mommy. No matter where he goes during the day, he always knows where Mommy and home is.  |
That makes me tear up every time I read it. Thanks sweetie.
(Isn't she eloquent?? If you ever get a chance, check out her two webpages she has for her daughter and baby on the way. Good reads!!)What made me feel even MORE bittersweet was that I think I was 10X more traumatized today than he was!! I dropped him off and he went right outside to play with the kids at the daycare... and didn't look back!
I was like, "Bye Matt!! Mommy's leaving!" and he glanced up from his toy truck, looked at me like, "So?" and went back to playing! 
I dropped him off at 8:00 AM and they were already playing outside and were still outside when I went to pick him up at 1:00.
Janelle said Matt ate all his lunch and even sat on a stool with the other kids to eat it - no highchair!So I think this is going to be so good for him. The whole way home he kept talking about playing with the "kids."
He'll be going twice a week from now on... I'm thinking Mondays and Fridays... for about 4 hours each day. It's not long, but I missed him like heck.
4 comments:
Don't worry about Matt not seeming like he cares when you are leaving, all kids do that. Aaron actually asks us why we are still here? when we drop him off to be babysat. Katelyn, on the other hand, hams it up by crying and stuff. But as soon as we leave she stops. I think she is just trying to make us feel bad. Must be a girl-guilt thing.
My best friend sent her son to day care/preschool at 2 years old too. Same thing as Matt - just two days a week for about 4 hours. (She also has a little girl two years younger than her son - only they are now 4 and 2) Now he's in preschool full time, but I remember that when he first started going, he would come home all excited about his time at "school" and excited to show off the arts and crafts he made, or the coloring he did. Or to talk about the silly things the other kids did or said. He'll be fine, and I think the fact that Jonathan and Ryan are there make it even better for him, and make the transition that much easier. I understand the reluctance to let your baby go, but like your friend said, it really is in his best interest to get that play time and social interaction. Good luck!
Payton didn't go to daycare until she was almost 12 months, and I was SO worried about her. Although I did research this daycare and spent a few hours there with her before we left her there, I still was a worried mama. I can't even begin to tell you the great changes we have seen in her. The art projects, the songs she attempts to sing, the baby signs... She has picked up so many wonderful things. Transitions from the bottle to sippy, intro to potty training, napping on a cot instead of a crib... All became so much easier at home because it was what all the kids in her class in daycare were also into. (she goes to a center so she is with only toddlers right now) And she actually eats her vegis there! Not at home though:) Sometimes when I go to pick her up, she doesn't even want to come home!
This morning, Matt woke up at 6:00, ran and got his shoes and ran to the door saying "Beep beep! Kids! Beep beep! Kids!" He wanted to go in the car and go back to daycare! LOL!
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