Day Care

Daycare. For a mother this word can have so many meanings. To some it is a taboo, to others it is a chance to go back to work and help out with the family income. Regardless of how you might feel about day care, the truth is more women are taking their children to day care just to make ends meet.

For women like me it isn't a choice to take my child to day care. Of course I would love to stay home with him. I want to be there to wipe his nose, band aid his cuts, clean cheerios off the floor. Unfortunately, it just isn't feasible for me. I am not one of those people who lives a lavish life style, I 'm not going to work so I can drive an Escalade, I'm working to help pay the power bill. Although I know this every time I leave him, I know he doesn't know this.

Before taking Brody to day care I spent an hour at the facility checking every crack, step and toy for suspicious culprits. Deep down I knew her house was just like my house. Like a CIA investigator I spoke with the Babysitter and asked her a million questions, trying desperately not to interrogate her. After leaving the place, I felt good. The children there seemed happy and content. I came away feeling as good as I could after leaving a daycare.

Still I dreaded the first day of daycare. I couldn't sleep for days. I had his bag packed two days in advance with all his emergency phone numbers, and his special food, just in case he wouldn't eat anything else. Before I knew it the day had come. We drove to the day care , I took a deep breath and walked inside.

I plopped Brody down on the floor and another child greeted him with a "Hi Brody." He shied away for the first few minutes and before I knew it he was in the corner pulling every toy off the shelf, tossing blocks, and pressing his face up against the large fish tank with a little swimming turtle. I kissed him goodbye dreading the classic cling to the leg, mommy don't leave me behavior. I was shocked to discover he ignored me, and I walked out with ease. No heart wrenching goodbye, no heavy guilt weighting on my shoulders as I walked out. Still I stepped into my car and began to cry.

I was amazed at how well Brody adapted in just a short amount of time. I asked myself are we as mothers really worried about them, and if they will survive. Is there some secret voice lurking with in us that says "My baby, needs me, and once goes to day care, or school , he won't need me anymore, not the way he needed me before. " Gone were the days of him as a helpless breastfeeding infant. I realized Brody was becoming a wonderful little boy and he was already learning to be social, friendly and to share with others.

At the end of the day, when it was time to pick Brody up I walked through the door. The minute he heard my voice my eyes met his and he smiled. He ran over to me and squealed in excitement. I scooped him up into my arms as he pointed at the fish tank and began to babble on. I like to think he was trying to tell me about his day. I like to think it really didn't matter. I had my little man back in my arms and we would go home where he would once again be my baby.

Neglected my blog.

I have been neglecting you dear Blog... please accept my appology. Brody has started walking, been to day care and I haven't documented any of it. I promise dear blog to be good to you!