Or maybe not?

School started today for Connor and Meg. I dropped a very reluctant Connor off in his four year old Pre-K class. I still don't understand why this child, who has attended the same school, classes all on the same hall, for two years (starting his third) cries EVERY time I drop him off. I know the teachers can't be mean to him because other kids in his class run in excited to be in school. But, still, there's Connor, a year away from Kindergarten, not wanting to separate from Mom.

After I dropped Connor off, I went upstairs to the nursery with Meg. She is registered for two days/week in the 18-24 month room. She definitely enjoyed playing with the other kids. She played on the slide in the room, played with the different toys and listened to the teacher read a few books. She sat on the rug for circle time, but didn't really participate. I stayed with her the entire time 1) to get her used to the room and 2) to see how she would do in the setting. It was pretty stressful to her. She didn't cry at all, but she kept coming over to me and pinching my arm. When the teacher brought out the snacks, Meg would take some from the teacher, walk over and put them in my hand, and then eat them from me. While these are all terrific signs that she is connected to me, they are not such a ringing endorsement for this being a good idea with Mothers Day Out. I have parented long enough to know not to judge a situation by a one time experience. We will try it again on Thursday, I will stay with her again, and we'll see how it goes. As she gets more comfortable with me there, then I might be able to leave her for short bursts of time, even if it's just to go to the grocery or to run somewhere for a moment. But on the other hand, it's so not worth jeopardizing the progress we've made for me to have a few hours of privacy. I can just as easily do all those things with her in tow, just like I did with Connor, and we'll manage. Connor didn't start MDO until he was 2. Liam didn't either. Jack was the only one who went to day care before his second birthday, and that was because I was working. Ironically, he was the most bonded and quickly transitioned of all four of my kiddos. (Well, no one is more bonded than Connor, but that's another story.) Anyway, there have been so many posts lately about families having to transition their kids into day-care and how difficult it has been on these families. All I could think of when I was sitting there in that room was that so many families would give their front teeth to be home with their kiddos and here I am, home, and just putting her into mother's day out so I can get my house cleaned, etc. Like I said, we'll give it a few more days, but right now I'm thinking I'll just take the pre-school tuition and pay a housekeeper and spend the one on one time with my daughter instead.

Psalm 32:8
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."