Things I know about daycare

My little two are in their third week of daycare once a week today.

Here's what I know about daycare and my children.

The first week (which was a four hour orientation session) my heart nearly broke when I saw my Little Mate's face crumble as I left, but they were both so happy when I picked them up.

The second week I left two screaming, distressed children and drove away in tears. When I picked them up my Little Miss Thing started crying as soon as she saw me, but I know that is because developmentally she is still coming to the understanding that we are two separate people and she was so relieved that I actually came back. My Little Mate was happy as anything to see me and we spent the car ride home talking about how much fun daycare is. Well I talked, he nodded enthusiastically.

This week we have used our personalised social story from See.Saw Visual Aids with my Little Mate. He has carried it around with him this week and tells me about the pictures (of his daycare centre). He has loved it.

This morning my Little Miss Thing was happy to get in the car with her bag. My Little Mate was not. As soon as we pulled up he started crying and it was the hardest thing to leave him. He was so unhappy, and I made the mistake of going to his room first so once his carer had detached him from me and I took the previously happy girl into the toddler room she lost the plot as well, crying for her brother.

Here's what I know about daycare so far. It is important that I get some respite, how important has become very apparent of late as I have been really struggling to be the parent I want to be.

If there was anything really wrong or my boy was distressed for an extended time they would call me, we have that arrangement.

It is far harder for me to leave that boy than even sending my other kids to school for the first time was. Even my little girl. He is different my boy. Some days I wish I could wrap him in cotton wool and protect him from the world forever.

It is important that he start learning to detach from me. It sucks. But it is necessary.

But my gosh leaving him so upset puts the heart across me.


What do you know about daycare?

I'm joining in Things I Know Friday with Singular Insanity. Will you?