Daycare

Yesterday, I went to visit the daycare center at Sears that Parker will be going to.  I met one of his teachers, and got to meet the other babies that Parker will be with each day.  I stayed for a while, watching the kids and teacher from so many perspectives-- from the standpoint of an observer, an evaluator, a teacher, and a mother.  It is hard to see one person choose the order of who to care for while knowing that your child will be one of the babies crying and waiting at some point.  

The logical educator in me knows that this is good...it will teach him how to handle social situations, get him used to routines, and teach him how to have patience and wait his turn.  But the hormonal, over-protective, anxious mother in me wants to be there for every moment, be the primary supporter for my baby, and give him everything he needs the second he needs it.  I also want to make sure that as his needs become more intense and more specified (i.e. language/development based), there are appropriate plans in place that are being carried out the best they can.  These are my battles, though, not his.  He will be happy and perfect...I am the one that needs to deal with them!

 The teacher I met won't be his primary one, but I still appreciated meeting her.  She was so kind and willing to listen and learn about Parker, immediately wanting to hold him and even gave me her personal email so I can keep her updated on his progress and therapies as they apply to his care.  She began telling me the story about the trip to Holland, and got very teary-eyed --telling me that she is so excited to be with and learn from Parker.  

For a situation that is so hard for me....leaving my baby and trusting someone else to meet all of his needs --special and otherwise, she was exactly what I needed...a kind, motherly person that hugged me when I left and recognized that I was struggling.