Owen has attended daycare since March 2. In fact, he’s attended three daycares. He started his third daycare a little over a week ago.
Daycare 1: Precious baby sleeps in swing all day. As in, sleeping in swing all day. As in, never awake. As in, one day, when they let Owen’s milk dump out in the refrigerator for the second time and needed more, they left me a profound terror-inducing voicemail saying only: &#@$*. [Symbols represent the name of the daycare ... or an expletive. It's all the same.]
Daycare 2: Our angel. Our sweet reprieve. Lots of babies being hugged and kissed and showered with words like “precious” and “precious.” But it was only a temporary stop in our transient world of childcare. Kyle and I work downtown, and Daycare 2 is not downtown. But since downtown isn’t overflowing with daycares, it’s exceptionally difficult to get into one. But we finally got into one. So, bye, Daycare 2, the land of so much precious.
Daycare 3: Beautiful, development-focused, and all lovey too. On Owen’s first day, my little 6-month-old was asked: “Owen, now what are your skills?” Now that’s the kind of pressure preciousness I like.
With the horrid-yet-very-sterile Daycare &#@$*, we quickly determined that we’d let Owen sit on a pile of dirt all day as long as that dirt loved him and stimulated him and, well, loved him some more. We award Daycare &#@$* a bucket of Owen’s special spit-up.
Daycare 2 showered him with more affection than we could have hoped for. We give Daycare 2 a hug.
Daycare 3: Kyle having to tear Owen away from a teacher who reportedly sneaks in frequently from the adjacent room, just to hold him. We give Daycare 3 a hug and belly tickle. For now.
Sending Owen to daycare has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. If I had my choice, I’d be at least a part-time stay-at-home mom, but I don’t have that choice. As Kyle is oft to say: “It is what it is.” And the “is” is a much brighter reality when I know that Owen is loved by not only Kyle and me, but also three caregivers, seven baby-friends and the lady next-door.
xoxoxo
Filed under: Motherhood, Work
and since you can’t be “a part-time stay at home mom”, and I don’t live close enough to help,(and you know I would), then Owen is in a good place, for this journey of his life.
I feel the same way. BUT B couldn’t be at a better daycare. Everyone absolutely LOVES her there (and we have teachers sneak in from the toddler room to see her, too) AND I think the socialization with her little friends is a good thing.
Hey Amy!
Great post. I am facing the unevitable reality that I will be back to work in less than 2 weeks and Parker will be in daycare
. James was going to stay home with him and a neighbor would watch him one or two days a week, but we’re still waiting to hear about his firefighter job and his other job is regular hours so daycare it is.
Now I have 2 lovely weeks to interview places and try to find something close to work that starts mid summer. Yippee yippee. Actually I think I found one I like yesterday, but it is 20 minutes away, boo.
Hope Owen likes his new place!
Yay for a good daycare! I would give them a belly tickle. And then I would tickle Owen because oh my gosh, that child is adorable. Then I would purchase some old man cologne for you. And it would be a good day.
Love this post Amy! I know how hard the daycare thing has been so I’m so glad he’s close to you guys and being loved on so much!
Josh says the same thing, “It is what it is.” At first it infuriated me, but now I’ve decided that that stupid little phrase is part of the secret to his (and Kyle’s) ability to not worry and fret over things. So I’ve been trying it out…and it actually seems to work a little.
I really enjoyed this post, by the way. You’re a good mommy, my friend.
Well, I only hope that I feel the way you do about Daycare two and three. You know my hang-ups and gut feelings and fears. Yuck. This was a great post. Amelia says Owen is easy to love.
I so appreciated this, Amy, a real look into your real life.. Thanks
. Love you lots, and you are a wonderful mummy.. Can’t wait to read your BOOK about motherhood one day.. Or your children’s book about it.. whatever.
I agree with Devi, you need to write a book! You have such a way with words! Start NOW!!
I vote for a book, too! I’ll buy one! Then you can be a part-time stay-at-home mom!!