The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Return to Daycare
Alexis made her glorious return to daycare this week after a too quick 3-week absence. It didn't take long for things to turn right back to the way they were.
Because of a change in schedules, I have been bestowed with the glory that is the morning drop off. There's a very good reason I don't do drop offs--I can't take the pain. On the first day, Alexis gave me a super-sized dose of pain by ripping my heart out and tearing it to shreds. In other words, she had a total and complete meltdown and made it real obvious that she wanted to stay with me. Her teachers swear that she calmed down shortly after I left, but her tears haunted me all day.
And then came Tuesday, and she no longer cared that I was alive. She cheered when we pulled into the parking lot and took off running once we were inside. I didn't even get so much as a kiss goodbye. And that's how it continued the rest of the week. I'm glad she likes school and all, but would it kill the kid to at least say goodbye? I'm not looking for another meltdown, but I bet there's a middle ground in there somewhere that would leave me feeling loved, but not too loved.
Alexis learned a few new things at school this week. First the good--she learned to count all the way to 8. You could have knocked me over with a feather the first time I heard her do it. Now I keep making her do it over and over because I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that my little tiny baby who just a year ago still couldn't walk, suddenly knows how to count. I feel like I should throw a "She Can Count!" party, but maybe that's a bit overboard.
The other thing she learned is that merely saying "No" when asked a question is really not quite enough. You should say "No way" just so that you make sure that your parents know just how ridiculous their questions about what you want to eat, whether you need a diaper change, and what you want to do really are. And the sassier you say it, the better.
I'm guessing that the same kid that taught her the art of sass is also the one that breathed on her and shared his/her grimy little toddler germs. Oh yes, it took a mere three days before the daycare-induced runny noses returned. By last night, a little bitty cold had grown to a full-sized cold.
I have previously mentioned that Alexis like to take everyone down with her when she's sick, and she did a masterful job of it last night. She ended up in our bed after several trips back and forth between the rooms to tend to her crying. I really have no concept how the child survived her first few weeks of life given how completely stupid I become in the middle of the night. Bringing her to our bed was dumb in and of itself, but then I managed to stay oblivious to the fact that she had a fever for hours. Other Moms I know check their kid's temperature the second they sneeze. Despite the restlessness, whining, and crying (oh, and the fact that her forehead was hot--duh!), I just couldn't seem to figure out what was going on. Then it took me an additional hour or two to realize that I could do something about the fever. I finally stumbled around the dark house, bumping into walls and falling down stairs, for ten minutes in search of the elusive baby Tylenol which was located in the medicine cabinet (where it belongs). I administered it it to one pissed off Toddler and she was able to sleep soundly for the four hours that followed. She woke up a new woman and you wouldn't even know that she was miserable for the greater part of the night. Unless, of course, you look at the bags under my eyes. They tell the story like you wouldn't believe.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Reader Comments (8)
Cute post, even though there was some melt-downs and runny noses. I hope Alexis is doing better - for everyone's sake. I wouldn't have necessarily checked for a temp.- if that makes you feel better. Hope tonight is better. See you soon. Kellan
I am so with you on the counting thing! The fact that Cooper actually gets things and can express his knowledge simply blows my mind!
We had a very similar night earlier this week - up every two hours, restless, crying . . . until 3:00 a.m. when we finally thought to give him Motrin. Had to wake him up at 7:45 the next morning to ensure a timely arrival at the pediatrician's office. Nice. He was happy as a clam and I looked like death warmed over.
I feel your day care pain! One day Ashlyn will cling to me and they practically have to pull her off my leg as I leave and then the next day she is so happy and excited to be there she won't even hug me. And then when I pick her up--she tells me she doesn't want to come home! Rip a mom's heart out!!
I think that if you want to throw a she can count party- go for it! I stand by my (probably a bit crude) comment - I push them out, I get to do what I want! Counting to 8 is great accomplishment! Celebrate it and enjoy it!
The sass - sorry to say, it gets worse! It must be a gene that gets turned on in girls when they can talk. I actually said- who taught you to talk to my sassy girl last night.
The germs- yukky! But I understand that too. Ashlyn and Riley came home with a cold from day care (and they have only 6 kids in their day care- so I have 2 of those kids!) We can't seem to kick the day care runny nose - and they took me down with them. I love that they share...but aren't germs something they could keep to themselves?
Sorry about the rough night. Don't be too hard on yourself--none of us are "good" parents in the middle of the night. I have been known to cry with my kids during the night because I want to sleep and I have no idea how to get them to rest/feel better/whatever it is. I hope you can get some rest or nap a bit today.
(Sorry to make such a long comment on here!)
Sorry she isn't feeling well. But think of all the immunities she's building for the future. (Yeh, small consolation.)
You're not the only mom who can't function at night. I get worse with age, though. I once, grossly, slept in puke for a while before realizing Micah came to our bed to barf.
Yeah for counting! Give her 8 M&Ms for her good work. :)
I knew it. I told the others that you were going to kill somebody as I was wiping her nose on friday. I said here for a week and look what the heck happened to her. Hope she is better for my sake tomorrow(lol)
Whoops I didnt mean to put that anonoymous Sure you figured it was me
Hey, thanks for writing this. Yesterday when we were around Dylan's cousin who is only 3 weeks younger than him, we discovered she is already walking. She is in daycare and her mom said that she feels she started walking early to keep up with the older kids in her class. There are definately pluses AND minuses to daycare, so it's good to hear both. I was sick all the time when I worked in daycares. Hope she feels better soon, and the rest of you don't get it.
Jen--You're right. For every pro to daycare, there's a con. Likewise for staying at home.