Daycare Reflections

I should technically title this "Childcare" Reflections since they're taking care of the child, not the day...but I've grown up calling it daycare and I'm sure I always will.

All mothers, moms-to-be, and future mothers - Please read!! You are my target audience for this particular blog. I'd love to hear your comments, thoughts, reflections, etc. as they apply to you and your current/past/future situation.

I've not had a chance to blog about my reflections on sending Layla to daycare and I figured now is an appropriate time to do so as the calendar year is coming to an end. If you've read my past posts about my thoughts/fears/reluctance to head back to work and send Layla to a daycare, it might be interesting for you to read to gain a better understanding of exactly how/what I was feeling. They're found in my posts during July & August.

To put it in a nutshell, I was one huge, emotional basket-case for about a month leading up to Layla's first day at Little Hands. Oddly enough, on that first day, I didn't shed a single tear. It didn't rip me up inside to let her go. I did call once to check up on her, and that was it. I was completely surprised by how I handled the whole situation once it finally arrived.

Four months later, I absolutely LOVE that she's attending daycare!

These thoughts have become more apparent/vivid this past week as I had it off work and was able to spend every moment with Layla. It sounds a little ironic, I know.

It could just be a stage Layla is in, but I truly believe she is simply bored at home with just us and her few toys (yay for Christmas gifts!!). She's very whiny and clingy. If I'm not physically in the room with her, crying ensues! Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter and at times enjoy the clinginess...but my goodness! I can't get anything done! I don't know if I could handle that every day :-)

She 100% knows who mommy & daddy are. She knows when she's home and when she's somewhere else. She always has. Daycare has not prevented/hindered any relationship between us.

I've watched her with her cousins as we're at all our holiday get-togethers and am amazed at how much she enjoys watching & playing with them. It gives me great joy to know that she gets to have that much fun every day with all the kids who attend Little Hands.

I know that she saves all her "firsts" for home based on conversations with the ladies at the daycare. I remember them being so impressed one day on how well she was pulling herself up and I thought to myself "she's been doing that for a week or two now." When Layla begins saying a new word, it seems they have never heard her say it when I mention it at drop-off or pick-up. On the flip-side, I know that she's learned words from daycare that she wouldn't have otherwise learned because we don't (or didn't) use them.

I cherish the first 5.5 months I had with her and hope that I get to spend a fairly equivalent amount of time with any future children we may have...but I don't regret going back to work.

I'm simlpy hoping to encourage you that it's not as bad as it might feel...sending your precious little bundle to a strange house/building every day. A lot of positives can come from it. She's interacting with other kids & learning physical, mental & social skills that couldn't happen at home with just me.

I've actually not had a single negative thought from the moment I dropped her off at her first day of "school."

I may not have the cleanest house because when I'm home I'd rather focus on her than what's around us...but that's just the way it might have to be.

I'm sure this post would have a far different approach had I stayed home, but I don't regret one second of the past 4 months.

If you're at home now struggling with the idea of leaving your little one...pregnant and weighing your options...or know that one day you will start a family of your own...I would love to talk with you, be an ear as you unload your thoughts & feelings, and encourage you as you deal with this emotional war within. I've been there...I know how it feels...and I know you get through it with minimal battle wounds & victory for both you & your child :-)