I dropped Will off the Mom’s Day Out program at 9 this morning. They way they have it set up, the door is blocked by a child gate and the teachers meet you at the door. So your child is passed arm to arm — rather than walking in, letting the child play, and then leaving once he or she is okay. Handing him off brought anxiety to both of us, but he was quickly comforted by one of the teachers and began to consider leaving her lap to explore. Meanwhile, I spoke to the other teacher, showing her his requist snack, drinks, lunch, change of clothes, and changing supplies (all required each day he attends.) I explained how I’d labeled some items in spanish and english, because he identifies many things in spanish and will ask for them in that language. For a moment, I wondered whether this unusual act would get Will kicked out of the program. Her eyes sort of glazed over and I swear her head did a quick 360 degree spin. But she seemed to recover so we moved on. I sort of wanted to stay for awhile and kind of transition him into the environment, but they encouraged me to leave and so I did. There were other parents behind me lined up to deposit their kids after me. As I left, I admit, I choked back some tears.
When I came to pick him up, he was being held at the door and the moment he saw me, he started to cry. They said that he had been off and on wanting me, but for the most part was fine until the last 30 minutes or so. (His nap time usually is around 11-11:30, so I wasn’t that surprised that he sort of began to break down so close to 1pm.) My feeling is that things will be worse Wednesday — because he will know what is going to happen. Paul’s Mom (who is an early childhood education specialist) suggested that Paul take a role in the drop offs, maybe the primary role, and see if he takes it easier. Separation from me is definitely the tough part for him. (This is both the most emotionally difficult part of being a mother — and it is the most important. I’d about die if it wasn’t this way!)
