I don't know about you, but things around here have been BUSY! The holidays are over, we're packing up decorations, Anna is growing WAY too fast, and the kennel is keeping me hopping. I've finally started getting back to the kennel on a regular basis, and that has been wonderful in so many ways, but it's also exhausting. Unfortunately, one of the things making it extremely difficult has been the fact that Anna is getting so active. It would be one thing if it were just a matter of keeping her from getting into trouble, but Anna is hitting that age where she realizes when I'm not around and she wants me around...and she wants me to play with her...or hold her...or nurse her...all the time.
As much as I loved having Anna all the time, I really wasn't accomplishing anything at the kennel. I was lucky if I could get one task done in a 4 hour period, and I couldn't leave the front counter because that was the only safe place for Anna. I couldn't hang out in the yards, I couldn't clean, and if Anna was in a crabby mood I even had trouble answering the phones.
So, Hans and I discussed things, and we decided to start Anna in daycare. The idea was that I could accomplish some things at work, and Anna would start to learn that she didn't need to be near me all the time, and she'd get to socialize with other babies. It was the perfect solution. The problem? We had to find a daycare that was accepting infants.
Apparently most people register their infants while they're still pregnant. I knew this, but Hans and I hadn't planned on needing daycare. Mom was going to care for Anna. We hadn't planned on her getting sick or needing surgery or being unable to even lift Anna. So, when life threw us that little curve ball, we decided to try it on our own. It didn't work, and when we started looking for a daycare we were told that the wait would be until March at the earliest or, in one case, September!
I had just decided that we'd need to search for a private nanny and had started looking into nanny-share options when we just happened to drive by a brand new daycare. It was way out of the way for us, so I didn't think too much of it, but I was desperate, so I pulled up some info on my phone.
This daycare offered part time options. Check! They would handle cloth diapers. Check! They even have cameras in the room so we could watch Anna while we're away. Oooh! Interested! We scheduled a tour, fell in love, and signed her up.
It's been one week, and Anna has attended two mornings and one afternoon. There are so many things I could say about it (like I'm proud I haven't cried...out loud). I'm able to get so much more work done, but I miss my daughter. I worry about whether this is the best fit for her or if I should have gotten a nanny. I worry, due to the newness of the facility, that she doesn't have enough kids around her to socialize. And yet, I know she's healthy. She's safe. And for 3 half days a week, I have some time to be an adult. It's wonderful.
Yes, Anna has started daycare. We're still working out all the glitches, and we're still getting used to it, but it's a good thing so far. After a while, she'll probably go at least 3 full days a week, but I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to slowly get her used to it (and get me used to it). The staff is great, and I really think things will work out well.
Now I'm putting it out to y'all. Do you have any tips? Any advice?
Ugh. I remember all too well thinking I could bring Maggie to work with me at the church during office hours...I work mostly evenings and weekends, you know? It was miserable for the both of us because naps only existed if I was holding her. Impossible. As hesitant as I was about daycare, it's be incredible, especially as a new mom. Our daycare lady picks up on things that we haven't, like when she might have an ear infection or is teething, she has the time and experience to teach things like baby sign language (AWESOME!), and helped me when I was struggling to figure out when to ween (OMG - mama trauma averted!) You're doing great. It's so hard being a working mom and you're rocking it. Just remember - even when she's old enough to cry when you come to pick her up - she really does love you more than the daycare lady because you're her mom.
ReplyDeletethis is hard....no doubt about it. Lyla started daycare at 6 mos. As a single mother it was necessary, but traumatizing. But as Katie said above....the best thing in the long run to have other eyes/ears on your child. You can tend to get tunnel vision about your own kid. Lyla learned faster and developed faster b/c of daycare, I believe. They helped with potty training, even. There are times whens she's gonna cry and cry and cry and cry....maybe even hang on to your leg and you are gonna feel like crap leaving her there. I felt sorry for the caregivers, too when this happened. I would go to my office and cry myself wondering if I was doing the best/right thing for her. But I believe you are doing the best thing for your family. You have to plow thru these days...hard as they are...with the confidence that you are doing the right/best thing. The healthy thing. a PLUS is that in daycare kids are exposed to lost of different germs (some would think this a bad thing). Not me. After about 18 mos Lyla was barely sick ever! And to this day she shakes every bug she comes into contact with. Right or wrong, I attribute this to breastfeeding and early exposure to stuff. Valerie...you are doing great and trying to balance your lives. Nothing wrong with that. Now, when you are ready, I need help with this spazzy puppy I have on my hands. lol!
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