Schluffing off the Baby

... onto someone else...

hah!

Well, I thought that my laziness and lackidaisical attitude had guaranteed that my sweet little Dao would stay home with mama for a good long while yet. Unlike most parents I know in the city, I hadn't put his name on the waiting list of over 30 daycares. I didn't sign him up two years ago, when I still thought I was getting a 7-11 mo old girlchild rather than a 22 mo old boychild. And I didn't research daycares since I got him.

But incredibly enough, I got The Call on Wednesday. And it struck terror in my heart. I will have to make a DECISION. egads. "are you still interested in a spot for the Dao in daycare? Please call back SaintBaby Daycare. Thankyou".

Yes, I called around. No, it is not weird if I don't want to let him go. Yes, some people not only don't put their kids in daycare, they even homeschool them! Ahhh, yay.

so I called back, thinking I'd say thanks but no thanks. But I had been encouraged to inquire as to what they were offering.

Two days a week.

Thursday and Friday.

No, he doesn't need to be there bright and early... just by 10am.

No, he doesn't need to stay til closing.

No, it isn't a Real Bad Thing if I keep him out a day here and there, to do things like visit our friends in the countryside (which is what we did this friday).

Yes, it is for right away, and no, there probably won't be a space open again in Sept if I decide to say no thanks now.

So, instead of saying "thanks but no thanks", we are going to check out the daycare this coming Wednesday morning. But I do know it is a really good daycare. One of the oldest in the city. The director has been there for like 20 years, and other staff for over 10. That speaks well of the conditions. Yes, children of some of the dog people went there... nearly 20 years ago. It looks great from the outside anyways: a big play area, lots of toys, cheery. Only one floor tall.

And only 3-4 blocks from our place, so we can walk there while dogwalking, at our regular daily scheduled dogwalking times.

It is so bizarre to think that I will be childless from 10-5 or so two days a week. I have only left him with someone and gone out three times in the past six months since we were united. Always in the evening. I don't even have friends and family or neighbors I drop him off at to run to the shop or park the car. He always comes with me. So it will be a huge life change to have him gone all day for two days a week.

But he'll love it, I know. He just loves other kids, and going out visiting. He loves games and songs and dancing and toys. And he'll be immersed in French, so he'll learn that better there than with me.

But my baby is taking his first "away from mommy" steps.

Oh my god. It's been only six months and already it is going too fast.

Comments

[Alison Cummins]

Yaaay! ... um, wait, you lost your space?

[ina]

Ahhh, Leanne, another "welcome to parenting" moment. When I look at photos of me holding Es as a baby I'm incredulous that she was ever that small. She'll be six on Thursday - hard to believe. A good daycare is worth its weight in gold - and yes, peu a peu, Dao is becoming less dependent on you.