The Dreaded Daycare

Since I have gone back to work (almost a month now) I had to put our children in daycare. I mean, that's what most working parents do right?! It was a big step for me to first, find a place that I KNEW they would be safe at all times. Somewhere I thought they would be comfortable and have fun. So I talked to my girlfriend and her 2 girls have been going to the same place for over a year now. The girls love it and so does Mom. Well, since we are neighbors and our kids play together all the time I thought it would be a great idea to have the all go to the same place. When I first went to the daycare it looked really nice. They informed me that when I get there everyday at 1:30 it is nap time already for the other children. The first day they laid Lauren and Chandler down for a nap with a little fuss from him but it went pretty good. By the end of the 3rd day, he was DONE. I realized that when I first walk into the door they grab him out of my hands and say "ok, time for bed" and off they go. YA RIGHT! He was not about to go for that. Ever since, it is a heart breaking scene everyday. When I get ready to go to work I put on my work shirt and he runs. He will hide downstairs and say "I'm not going" And the tears begin. He wont stop crying until we get there and it starts all over again.
Today was one of the hardest days to leave. Chandler was clinging to my neck in a death grip, heart-breaking sob, "don't go, I wanna go with you" "put my shoes on, I'm not staying here" and the ladies looked at me and said "just go Mom"




I got in the car and thought to myself, I pay good money for him to be miserable! Doesn't make a lot of sense. But what do you do. In these times, it takes both parents working to make ends meet.

Lauren on the other hand has been in pre-school for 2 years now and knows what school routine is all about. She is always such a big girl when its time to go and most of the time she will say "I'll try very hard to take good care of my brotha" In school, Lauren is advanced in her fine motor skills like coloring (she is like her father, it must be PERFECT), using scissors, and tracing small objects on paper. One of Lauren's favorite things to do is play on the computer. She is constantly asking for us to download her a game or go to play house disney.com Its cute to see a 4 year old on the computer, having NO problems with the mouse, and typing her name in for a game she is playing. Our beautiful daughter, what a joy she is.