Today is the first day that you start daycare… you’re a big boy now and will have so much fun.
Today you will make new friends with all the other 2 year olds in your classroom and come to love your teachers.
Today you will sit at the table like a big boy and eat lunch with all of your new friends and teachers.
Today I will worry that you will be scared and unsure of your new surroundings even though we’ve visited the classroom a couple of times.
Today I will worry that you’ll cry when daddy leaves and you’ll be all alone with new people.
Today I will also worry that I am failing you because I am not home with you like I was with your sisters.
Today a new page in our lives begins.
I know that this is the right thing to do for you and that you are going to learn and grow so much from being in a structured daycare and that you will enjoy it in time.
I’ve seen the things that the other children can say and do and was surprised. I couldn’t believe that they could recognize the names of their friends on flash cards…. I couldn’t believe that some of your new friends could talk in complete sentences that I could fully understand. I know that you will be sitting in that circle with them and doing the exact same things as them in no time.
Pretty soon you’ll be rattling things off in complete sentences and telling us about your day and how much fun you had.
This first day is going to drag for me as I watch the clock tick… waiting for that magical hour when I can leave work and finally come and get you and gathe you in my arms. All day I will wonder if you’re okay but I won’t visit yet because you need to get adjusted, but I will call to check on you. I need to for my own sake really… I need to know that you’re alright and now having a meltdown.
As the days turn into weeks I know that things will get easier for the both of us. All you need to remember is that we love you so much and that you will learn a lot and have fun.
Hey Mama, virtual hug because I know your heart hurts xxx
When I called to check on him I wanted to leave work right away and go get him when I heard him crying…. broke my heart.
Oh Jackie, I know it’s going to be a hard day for you, but you’re right. He is going to love it and learn so much. Hugs to both of you, and I hope the adjustment period is a short one.
Thank you! I’m trying to keep really busy at work so I don’t worry to much.
I know it will be so hard on you, but he will have a great time. He will learn so much and make so many new friends. It will be okay.
We have that same Buzz Lightyear quad!
I know that but I think that the adjustment time may be longer for me than for him!
I love the quad but hate that it won’t go across the lawn!
Hang in there, mama, it’s time for him to spread his wings! If you’ve gotten this far without daycare, that’s amazing. The social skills (and friends!) he will gain will be awesome. Don’t beat yourself up – you’ve done amazing with him – I mean, look at how flippin’ cute he is!
We sort of had daycare… a friend of mine has babysat for me since my oldest was 3 (she’s 16 now). But now that her kids are both in school she’s moving on to other things which is good for her but bad for me.
Big hugs to you!!! That is a hard, hard thing to do. My heart still breaks a little each morning when I drop my boys off at daycare. You both will do great!
The other kids there are great and seem to have adjusted so well. I know that with time Andrew will be great there.
Sob! Hugs to you. You both will do great, but I know those first days are rough.
I figure once we get through this week things will slowly start to get better. At least that is what I am hoping for.
Good luck today – it’s going to be a bittersweet day for sure. Love all the shots – way too much cuteness going on over here!
Easter Egg Family Time
He is kind of cute! But then again I’m totally biased! Thank you.
Oh my gosh, he is beautiful.
I know you, Jackie, and you’ve undoubtedly checked the site out up and down.
I also work day care and can tell you, our kids THRIVE.
Hugs to you today, mama.
We did check it out and it’s good place. But I feel terrible! Especially after calling to check on him and could hear him crying in the background.
Oh, what a big day! *Hugs*
I hope he loves it and has a wonderful time. And I love love his hair
Thanks! I love his hair too… and that is why it’s still long. I did have it cut once though just so it wasn’t in his eyes!
what a big day! I hope all goes well! Sweet pictures!
It was a big day and it went pretty well I think. At least he didn’t cry all day.
It’s always hard leaving them for the first time! Sending hugs mama!
Thanks! Today was better that’s for sure.
He is a precious little guy, and I’ll bet he will really love it there!
Thanks! He does seem to have fun when he’s there & I’m watching.
Nothing anyone can say can make your pain go away… only time to adjust can heal. Everyone does what it best for them and the needs of their family – just remember, there are just as many positive advantages to come from this change as there are negatives that you imagine. Hang in there. (So much easier said then done – I know!)
There are so many positives in sending him to daycare and I know that each day will get better for both of us.
So hoping the day went well! He’s adaptable…(and so are you)…
It went pretty well for the first day! Day two… well I only called once and he was alright.
I hope everything went well too! He’s a cutie pie!!
Big hugs fellow Michigan Mama!!
YAY! Another Michigan blogger! Where are you located?
I pray it gets easier for you, I struggled with day care when I returned back to work after maternity leave. I cried for 8 weeks straight at every single drop off. Then, an unexpected blessing occurred and I was laid off (didn’t seem like a blessing at the time, but it worked itself out with my eBay business).
Best of luck to you! He is SOOOO adorable, getting so big! LOVE the hair!!!!
He’s been with a sitter since he was about 4 months old and that was alright but this was such a big change for all of us!
I love his hair! I did have it cut once so he could see!
Transitions like that are so hard on moms! But, truly, there are so many benefits for him to have the daycare experience. Hope you can remind yourself of that when you’re feeling low or nervous.
I think that being there will really help with his talking…. he talks but not as well as some of the kids in the class! I couldn’t believe it! And with 3 older sisters (10,12,16) he really needs to play with kids his age.
I hope it went well – the first day of any new school for my kids has always been the hardest for me! But there are so many perks to all that socialization.
Big day! How did it go??????
LOVED this post!