day care

I was home with E for 8 months before she started day care. I was really heart broken about leaving her, and I worried so much about going back to work,  and about how I would work out pumping, and her not taking a bottle.  So many things to think about.

Things have been going pretty well, but now my girl cries when I hand her over to leave. I end up driving to work with a lump in my throat, even though I know she only cries for a few minutes.  The good news is that she has been slowly adjusting to her new routine and had an excellent 3 days there this week so far.  She had been getting really overstimulated and stressed out with all the kids and all the noise.  We live in the middle of nowhere and she was home with just me for so long. I knew it would be hard on her, and I felt so awful knowing she was having such a hard time.  But this week all went well.

I think the stress was trickling into our life at home, too.  She had been having a really hard time at bedtime since she started day care.  It's been a pretty stressful 5 weeks at our house between 6:30 and about 8.  Tonight (knock on wood), she fell asleep easily, and she talked to herself for about 2 minutes when I put her down before falling asleep.  I am so relieved!  I'm hoping that since she seems to be transitioning, things will continue to get a bit easier for us at home.

I still wish daddy could do drop off.  It stinks to have to hand her over when I feel like she should be with me.  But I do give lots of credit to full time working moms.  I don't know you do it. I'm so grateful that I can work part time and that I get 1 extra day a week with her.  It definitely makes a difference, and my school is such an amazing place for making this work for my family.

Speaking of my school, I'll put in this little plug.  We need donations!  If anyone wants to support an amazing place where we strive every day to help kids be successful, please consider donating.  Donations, no matter how small, do add up.