Category: Family Matters

First of all, let me just say that this will not become a daily digest of Megan’s day at “rainbow” (the name of the center). BUT it being the first week and all, it’s really the only thing on my mind at the present.

This morning went smoothly as well–she did give me the, “Um, oh wait–no you’re not leaving are you??!?!?” look–at which point I fled the building. Apparently, after I left, she was easily distracted with breakfast, and went about her merry way.

Good things thus far:

a) Baby Girl didn’t go outside yesterday because I forgot sunscreen. For those who’ve seen the red-headed, fair-skinned Babe in the flesh, you know this is a VERY good thing. I packed sunscreen (and applied at home), and today she spent 30 minutes outside before lunch!!

b) They sanitize our bottles for us!! That’s 2-3 less bottles for me at the end of every day. I LOVE THAT!

c) She gets time with the older children, which she LOVES, and today she slept–on a cot of all things! She slept longer on it than in the crib yesterday, so maybe they are onto something. I love that they were open to trying it out! (not my suggestion)

d) I literally get a written report everyday. They measure her food, record her diapers and bottles and give me a synopsis. I’m very glad that I’m not required to keep a written log on my own child like that–I’m sure I’d fail miserably at it!

She slept long and hard last night, and went down early tonight. Thankfully she’s pretty good about going down even when she’s tired. I think a week or two of figuring out her new nap schedule and we will be golden.

I’m really glad we decided to do this this week–with this transition going smoothly, I think I’ll enjoy our three day weekend more. Now the only new thing on Tuesday will be 4 new students!! (Yikes!!!)

Other News

Okay, there really isn’t much. My solicitations for the adoption agency fundraisers have been paying off–several items have come in thus far, which makes me feel like all the time on the phone, the postage, etc. was worth it. After Relay For Life, I will make one last concentrated effort–perhaps at the airconditioned mall or some other agreeable place!

Since I’ve turned on comment moderation on this blog, now anyone can leave a comment–you don’t have to be a registered user. So go ahead–comment away. I’m waiting!

oh and shh…don’t tell the Montessori police, but I’ve set up the Pack n Play in our room, and the Babe likes spending a little time in there every day while I’m getting ready. It’s SOO much better than chasing her around our non-child proofed room. Phew!

And the last bit of non-news…our meals have become Juice-a-licious. My friend passed on basically a Juicemaster 2000 type juicer to me–the kind that pulverizes EVERYTHING into juice. It is so much fun! And the Babe loves it. Now I can make a little apple juice, grape juice, fruit/carrot cocktail and she thinks it great! She takes it in her straw cup and goes to town. I think it will be a great way to sneak in some extra veggies. tee hee hee!

I’ve done it..it being, signed the Babe up for daycare! I went with the place I mentioned in my last post after I ran over there in the middle of the morning. Adults interacting with the children, everyone happily eating snack, everything fairly tidy and very clean. There was cheery music playing, and in general, the place seemed pleasant. The director was happy to see me, the assitant director was sweet, and so I plopped down a deposit.

I feel, in a way, like a weight has been lifted off my chest–we made a decision! Of course, I’m still talking myself into the fact that she is, in fact, going to daycare at all, but that’s beside the point. L stopped by on Friday as well, and said that it seemed fine to him, and he met the staff as well.

So starting May 30th, I’ll drop her off and then head to work! L starts summer school this Wednesday night. He’s working on finishing his B.A., and for the next 18 months, most nights of the week he’ll be down at the local college til sometime after 8pm. Thankfully his job has tuition reimbursement!

I’m hoping to be able to have some “quality time” with the Babe each afternoon after we get home and she naps for a bit. Usually there are about 3-4 hours between her afternoon nap and bedtime. Up until he starts school, this time was L’s, because I was always heading off to the tutoring center. Now it’s my turn to take her to the park, do bath time, etc. I’m hoping that a few times a week we’ll be able to meet daddy on campus for a picnic dinner of some sort.

Other things on my mind……I’ve read 2 stories in the paper lately that really make me question whether common sense is still common in America. They were both stories of illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants who were brought here as children for a better life. Children raised in this country, but now living in the margins as adults because they don’t have the proper paperwork. They live in fear of being found out, being deported–even though in both cases they are hardworking young men who are contributing in society. One is a landscaper, the other a studen studying robotics. Neither is a threat to national security. Both were brought here by well-intentioned parents. Both consider the US to be home–neither has seen their own “motherland” for a long, long time. One has a child, who is an American citizen. These profiles make me feel that illegal immigrants need to be treated with more respect, and need to be given a road to becoming citizens. I know the borders need patroling, I know border states bear the brunt of huge expenses. But for people who were brought here through the actions of others, it just seems to make sense.

Ok, so I’m over not getting a SpringBreak from being a Mom, and really enjoying my week with the Monkey and my girlfriends. Earlier in the week I had a very weird fantasy about signing the Monkey up for child care–sending her to one of the billion places around our house instead of lugging her to school every day. See, the school thing is good til Summer–then I have to make other arrangements anyway. I’m teaching through the summer, but the person watching her won’t be at the school.

So I had this fantasy of signing the Monkey up somewhere else, thinking, “Wow, maybe one or two days a week after work I could do something like grocery shop or get my hair cut or go to the bookstore by myself..” Because right now the minute I’m done with work, it’s a race home to get her down for her nap.

I called a few places, and found out that I’d have to pay for a full-time space. Ouch. But I thought I’d check them out anyway. FANTASY OVER.

The two things I wasn’t prepared for:

1) the smallness of the “young toddler” rooms (once you can crawl, pull up and eat some table food, you are a young toddler, apparently). There can only be 5-10 children in one room, and of course you want your facility to be a profitable as possible. So the young toddler rooms are really no bigger than the Monkey’s bedroom. Granted, she’s got a big bedroom, but still! And one of the facilities had no windows or natural light whatsoever.

2) the babies playing on the floor, by themselves, with two caregivers sitting the rocking chairs, the room completely silent. No adult conversation, no interaction with the children, no music in the background…

FANTASY OVER. Now I know not every place is like this, and I’ve been teaching long enough to know that you can’t judge a classroom on a two minute glance. But I’m thinking that if nothing else is going on (feeding, diapering, soothing, putting to sleep) that one of the caregivers should in, some way, be interacting with the children!

So now I’m on a mission to find Mary Poppins and keep our current routine of bringing the Monkey to school everyday and knowing that every day at 1pm I will be headed home and crossing my fingers that she doesn’t fall asleep in the car.

And on days when I’m close to the edge and whiny, I’ll just think back to where the Monkey could be instead, and realize that this moment too, shall pass.