It Never Ends

[ste_noni]

I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing me go on and on about sending Ellie to daycare, but it's still really on my mind.

We went to her orientation today. She did really well while I was in the room. She took off, played with a bunch of toys, and interacted with a few kids. Then Joe and I left for the orientation and after about 20 minutes, Joe went to check on her and she was crying with a runny nose and that hiccup that babies get from crying hard. I would have been shocked if she hadn't cried. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how well she did while we were there.

I know she will adjust. It's a really good daycare. I know it will be hard on me no matter what. Still, the place just seemed sad to me. Two little boys had runny noses. The teachers got to them eventually, but I *hate* the idea of Ellie running around with snot on her face. One little girl kept losing her shoes and I put them back on her three or four times. It struck me that Ellie could and will be interacting with people, maybe putting on her shoes, and I'll never know about it. That's not bad, exactly, but it's a huge change from the way her life is now.

The daycare has an excellent reputation and I don't have much experience with daycares. Still, it just seemed to me that Ellie will be spending an awful lot of time on her own, playing by herself, unless she gets hurt/upset or she hurts/upsets someone else.

Comments

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

It's a huge adjustment, even to go from one-on-one daycare to group daycare. It was hard for us when Casper went to school - go back and read my posts from last december and january on the topic. The snot thing really bothered me, too! But I think in retrospect it was certainly harder on us than Casper. And Ellie will have new people to love her and she will start to play "with" the others (even if at her age it's more parallel play.)

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's what I wanted to hear and I will go back and read your posts.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

This one seems pretty key: http://casperflea.livejournal.com/2005/12/16/

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

I think I was reading this while you were typing. Seriously, it's exactly how I feel. Even the part about Ellie's inherent fabulousness.

[aimeejmc.livejournal.com]

I wish I had words of wisdom or comfort for you, other than, "It will pass. She'll be fine."

Em started daycare when she was a wee 4 months and she did get all the one-on-one attention because her age warranted it. And as a result, she was loved and they were very upset when we took her out.

The transition to the new daycare in August was harder, but after a couple of days she was fine. And Edith hugs her goodbye and tells Em that she loves her.

Ellie will play with the other kids and have a good time and her snot will be wiped, I promise. And once you see how much more social she is after a few weeks, some of the fears and concerns will subside. Some. But then, that's the nature of parenting. Always having that cache of worries.

None of this probably helps, so sorry for the rambling.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

No, it does help. At least I know my freaking out is normal and that it will lessen over time. I was looking over at the infant room today. At our daycare, it goes to 15 months and they had wanted to put Ellie in there. I loved how quiet it was and how the babies got so much attention. I think ELlie is better off with kids her age, but it was so chaotic.

Anyway, I'm marking all these comments so when I totally lose my shit next week, I can come back and be reassured.

I wish I had words of wisdom or comfort for you, other than, "It will pass. She'll be fine."

I actually have a post about this brewing. Maybe I'll have time to get to it tonight.