New Routine

Our boy is growing up! Our munchkin has reached the age where during the week he could benefit from more interaction and socialization with other kids, more stimulation than his toys, books and DVDs can offer, and more outdoor play during the day. With me working full time and Michael heading into busy season, we decided that the time had come to enroll Adam in Daycare.

We looked around the area and first found a Center within 3 miles of our house (and within a mile or so from my new office opening in October). Right off the bat we were impressed. The staff, the curriculum, the hot meals, the air filtration systems and the video camera access were all huge selling points for us. Since the day we took our first tour, they've recognized us and know Adam by his name.

Last week we officially enrolled him and dropped by the center to submit our paperwork. It happened to be Open House so we were able to go into Adam's room and meet his teachers. As we were chatting with them I looked over, and Adam had the most pathetic, pouty look on his face. The next thing we knew he burst into tears. Did he recognize what was going on here? Did he relate this playroom with the church nursery rooms and realized what happens in such places -- he gets left! It broke my heart, but fortunately we really love the center and the caregivers and know he's going to do be treated well.

Monday was his first day, and Michael and I both brought him in so we could learn the drop-off and pick-up routine. No tears! (Well, at least for Adam.) He was very alert and had a worried expression as he looked around at everything, and as we walked away (Moms, I recommend NOT looking back) I could see him struggling to see around his teacher to see where we were going.

Thank goodness for the video cameras! I mentioned that the center has cameras in his room, and we can log in any time during the day and watch him at play. (Even Gramma and his aunts peek in.) The good news is that I can watch him remotely; the bad news is I can watch him remotely -- it's addicting! Every day I log in as soon as I get to work and rewind to the drop-off time to see how he does and how well he adjusts. Monday morning he stood at the wall and cried for about 10 minutes. Broke my heart! All day long he followed one of the teachers around and just wanted to be held, which was expected, and he only took a 20 minute nap. By 4pm we threw in the towel and rushed to 'rescue' him. I was sure he'd get right home and fall asleep but each day he's not been interested in napping and stays awake until his normal bedtime.

Each day has been an improvement, and his naps are now up to 1 1/2 - 2 hours long. I think just before nap time is my favorite time to watch as they each climb on to their little cot, get snuggled up, and the lights turn off. Adam is usually one of the last kids out of his cot when the lights come back on.

Thursday was a great day for him. He cried a bit in the car when he realized where we are going and when I left him, but each time I checked on him he was actively playing. He still plays mostly by himself, but I'm hoping in a couple weeks he'll interact more with all the little buddies there. When I picked him up (my favorite part of my day) he even told all his teachers "Bye, Bye."

Here's the view of his room during circle time (second from left):

And another view -- can you find him?

And here he is playing with a pull-toy.

Click to animate

All in all, I think he will do very well here. His classroom is 18-24 months, so he's one of the younger ones in the room. In this class they work on some developmental things, like drinking from an open cup, sleeping on cots, and introducing the potty. They also teach some basic sign language, and there's a special teacher that comes in once a week to teach more sign language, Spanish, Japanese, and more! (We'd better keep up with him!) And I like the variety of meals he's getting for lunch, too. At home he'd likely be having chicken nuggets or grilled cheese, but at school he gets chicken quesadilla pizza, fish sticks, and pasta. And each day when we get his progress report it tell us how much he ate (and he's been eating very well) and how long he slept.

His teachers keep telling us how impressed they are at how well he's doing for a first timer. And I'd like to think I'm doing pretty well for a first timer, too.