Friday, November 21, 2008

Fears Unwarranted

I was thinking the other day, while listening to Aedan sing a few different christmas/holiday songs (without missing a beat on the words) from the back row of the van, about how far we have come in less than 2 years.
When I was pregnant the 1st time I was so very worried about having to put my children in day care. I had this fear that it would be very bad for them. I lucked out and my Mom retired and watched Mr. Man at her house everyday and I could stop there for lunch feed him and just enjoy his company in the middle of an 8 hour day. Then I got pg with Chloe. Mom couldn't watch the kids anymore sot the fear of the unknown was back. I got seriously stressed and started back smoking. At 3 months I was ready to go back to work and we had a spot for both kids at the day care but I was still worried.. in steps Mary (Jim's Cousin) with no full time job. She'll watch them at our house til she or we find something better. Crisis averted.. yet again. So Mary ends up hanging for a good year and a half before things got dicey and she had to quit/we had to fire her. So Aedan is 3 1/2 and Chloe is 18 months. I call the day care and they have spots. *shudder* They start the 1st Monday in May, 2007. Chloe cries every morning as she is pried off my leg for 2 weeks.. Aedan is fine. After the 2 weeks Chloe is fine and Aedan starts that clingy routine. Makes my heart ache.. Is it really that bad ? Do they beat you? Make you sit in a corner for not listening? nope.. We play games and sing songs and learn our letters and numbers and everything.
Fast forward to geez.. 3 months later.. All is well .. they are flourishing. Both kids are way more advanced than I thought they would be.
Then I get pregnant with Alexa. ugh.. 3 in Daycare.. not what we had planned. But hey you take what God gives you and you are thankful. We toss around me quitting work but in the end it is a wiser choice for me to continue working and stretch the limits of our budget for a little more than a year until Aedan goes to Kindergarten.
I am amazed at the progress each child has made while at the center. They have learned so much in addition to the whole social aspect. So when it was time to leave Alexa I didn't even hesitate. I loved all the teachers that would be taking care of her so I pretty much dropped her off with a kiss and an "I love you" and went my merry way. I did call a couple times that first day just for my own piece of mind and she was fine. She has been fine ever since..

Aside from the random pink eye and other lovely transmittable diseases we are really loving the center and the people in it. And I am really loving all the songs I get to hear coming from tiny voices when we are driving or when I'm cooking and Chloe is concentrating on coloring at the kitchen table..

"Ahhhh, it's a marshmallow world in the winter,
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it the whole year round!

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly,
In the arms of the evergreen trees;
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head,
It's shining so your nose won't freeze!"

or from Chloe..

"Winkle winkle little star
how I wonder what you are
up above the world so high
like a diamond in the sky

winkle winkle little star
how I wonder what you are"


Gotta love it.. :) My fears were unwarranted and I am so glad to have been proved wrong. It so seldom happens. :)

1 comment:

Christy said...

That is so great! It's fulfilling to have a much-pondered situation work out exactly as you hoped it would and it's such a relief to know the kiddos are happy, healthy and stimulated while away from you, isn't it? I thank God for our preschool and the wonderful staff there.