Sending Baby to pre school was a huge decision for me. I say me, as Mr Hubby has always been more practical and since Baby was two weeks old, he has been leaving her every day to go to work. So being without her was never the same to him as it was to me. The thought of leaving our daughter with anyone, let alone strangers, made me feel physically sick. I know this was neither healthy or helpful, but it was genuinely how I felt; sick to the pit of my stomach. It was so tempting to just keep her at home, she didn’t actually NEED to go. However, the truth was she was ready to go and if we are being honest I needed some time too. Time to focus solely on work without the constant guilt I feel when I have to respond to an email or write a quick post in her presence.
The first day was bad, both of us in tears (although mine fell in the privacy of my car). The second day was worse, the staff peeling her off me, while she cried hysterically. I know it was just new, to both of us, but it was so hard to walk away. To get in the car and leave her with people she didn’t know or trust. The thought that she might be scared or upset, without me being there was awful.
Pre school wall snap
We pressed on, doing shorter days and before long things started to change. Instead of starting to say she didn’t want to go, when she noticed where we were going; she started to talk about her teachers and her friends on the journey. She started to enjoy it. The drop offs gradually got easier and, although she always gives me such an enormous hug and kiss when I collect her, she has LOVED being there. You can see it shining from her face.
Before the summer she was relishing going in; I think she would have gone every day if she had her way, rather than the two mornings she is booked in for. Then typically the summer holiday arrived meaning no pre school for six weeks. We were a little worried that she might take a step back, but we really shouldn’t have given it a second thought. The day before she returned, I told her that it was pre school the following day and she wouldn’t stop talking about her teachers and friends. She even cried when we went home instead of preschool; saying ‘no go home, nursery’.
The first day back couldn’t have been more different than the first day she went. She confidently walked in and kissed me goodbye, ready to get stuck into her day and her new adventures. I am so glad we gave it time, even when it was almost unbearable, because we have both grown from her being there.
Pre school car park selfie
I am linking up with the following fabulous bloggers and their lovely linkys.
Katie from Mummy Daddy Me for #OrdinaryMoments and Jaime at The Olivers’ Madhouse for #MagicMoments
Comments 11
Aww Miss M had such a similar experience when she started daycare too 🙂 It’s so sad to miss them but for us the benefits of daycare are wonderful, she does so much, makes some lovely friends and yes, you get some time to do your thing too 🙂 Mim x
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It is so hard isn’t it? She loves it now though and asks to go 🙂 xx
Aw Aby it sounds like Baby is absolutely thriving at preschool and you must be so proud of her. It’s so good for them to have that little bit of time away and so good for you to get some work done, you work so hard and I am sure those few hours helps a lot. x
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Thanks lovely, a bit of focused time does help work wise. She loves it now too x
Charles was the same when he first started as he was painfully shy I felt it best to send him for a couple of morning to try to help him mix better. Fast forward 4 years and he is everyone friend, always invited to everyone’s houses and parties and s complete u turn to this shy timid boy he was when he started nursery. It’s so lovely that they just go off and don’t look back x
What a lovely post, the first day is always so hard (even more so for mum I think) I still half the occasional wobble when dropping A off at nursery but seeing him come home with all the things he’s made and talking about all he’s done helps. So glad your both happier now xx
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Thanks so much, she loves it now, so it was all worth it in the end xx
Glad she is all settled in now. I love that cute photo of her peeping! xx
We had an awful time when ours transitioned from the baby room in nursery to the middle room. It sounds like baby is having such a lovely time and it will only get better as she gets older. It’s also good for us adults to have ‘some grown up time’ and as you say, to not feel guilty x
Oh honey, leaving Baby when she was really upset must have been so hard. But it really sounds like you did the right thing sticking. Baby seems to be doing so well now and I know it helps you to have time to concentrate on work. A great post lovely. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
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It was awful, I am just so glad we have come out the other side. xxx