Daycare #3

There are usually about 3-4 days per year where some change happens that make me feel like it is my first day back to work after having Parker all over again.  Usually, it is after a break (leaving him after the summer stinks!).  It is that heart-twisting pain that is hard to put into words.  The last 6 months or so have been great in terms of how much time I get to spend with Parker that I almost forgot what really leaving him for 10 hours a day feels like.  I got to hear him babbling in the back seat on our long commute, and because his daycare was so close to me, I got to go to most of his therapy sessions on my lunch break.  Selfishly, it was so nice to be close to him so much.

We painstakingly decided that a daycare change is the best move for him.  And when I say painstakingly, I mean that I had to make sacrifices (selfish, again) so that he gets what we feel is the best care we can provide.  I literally had a little pro-con chart going on in my head :)

Essentially, we underestimated how long my commute would be, especially in the winter.  There were some days that Parker was spending almost 2 hours in the car.  Most days, about an hour an a half total.  Had he been getting incredible care, I would have been able to justify that commute for him, but in reality, we knew from our last daycare experience that daycare can really be more like "school" and less like "supervision."  His last daycare just wasn't providing that for him.  They loved him in their own way and met his general needs, but Parker needs more than that.  He needs people that have a passion for child development, have the drive to learn about him and what can help him progress, and love him so much that they are willing to be his advocates when Matt and I aren't there.

So for me, even though it is little-contact car time, I lose a large chunk with my baby, and forfeit the ability to go to any of his therapies with the exception of the summer.  We aren't quite sure yet how many of these therapies Matt will be able to attend, though his work is only 10 minutes away.  The reason I say this part is selfish is up for debate. Even though I was getting to attend Parker's therapies, it is hard to implement the skills we learn and work on because our awake time with him is limited during the week.  I really enjoy being at the therapies, getting first-hand information, and staying in the loop, but it is truly more important for his teachers to be there and learn, assuming they soak up everything they can.  Luckily, it is only a few more months 'til summer!

We are hoping that this will be Parker's last move until he goes into a special ed pre-school at age 3.  The continuity and longevity would be great for all of us!

More on his new daycare later this week!