Preschool!

Vi starts pre-school next week! She is so excited, she keeps telling everyone. The classrooms all have animal names - right now, she's an Inchworm, and her preschool classroom is the Hoppy Frogs. She says, "I be a hoppy frog!!!" When she visited the classroom a couple of weeks ago, she walked in, threw her hands in the air and said, "I'm a hoppy frog!" (Her inchworm teacher almost cried. Oh, the tongue-in-cheek glare we got from her today when we told her Vi officially starts next week!)

I had a tour of the new classroom this morning, and saw their "Circle Time." The teachers are so great - they really work letters and counting into everything. They have mastered the art of combining play and learning - perfect for this age group. When wrapping up the tour with the director, I got weepy telling her how pleased we are with her teachers and facility. We talked about how happy and loving her employees are, how dedicated they are, and how Dan and I both feel so blessed to have a child care situation that is so closely aligned with our own values. She then got weepy, too, and said how sad she feels that not all children have this sort of a child care situation. And, how the world would be a better place if that weren't the case, and we paid more attention, gave more love, and showed our "little ones" how to be respectful, kind and loving.

*Sigh.*

I love our daycare.

First day of day care

Vi had her first day of day care last Wednesday, and she loved it. Her teacher sent us this picture:
On her daily report (the piece of paper which tells us if she ate, pooped, slept, or learned anything new each day), it said "Vi had fun Playing with Cassy (the dog)."

This isn't going to be so hard, after all. Now I know the hard part will be the separation...for ME. I am going to miss so much of her development; I'll have to find a way to deal with the incongruity between my ideals as a mother, a feminist, and someone who can't afford to not work.

Once again, a timely read

My sister sent me the following blog post waaaay back in October 2007. Remember October 2007? I had been back to work for about a month, was starting to struggle with work/home balance, trying to figure out child care, and feeling so alone and helpless.

http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/004007.html

It's funny to read this again, now. So much has changed, yet not much is different. I still struggle for balance. Child care has been an ongoing issue - emotionally, logistically, financially. I feel like a crazy person when I argue it out in my head - I want to be home with Vi, I can't afford to be home with Vi, I have to work, I love my work, I miss Vi, I can't afford quality child care unless I work, I only need quality child care if I work...and so on. Like an insane carousel of emotions and problems and hopes and fears that just doesn't stop.

We've been in a decent pattern for a couple of months now, with a great nanny, a great grammy, and Dan's off-season schedule loosening up a bit. Just this past week, we have found a day care center that I really like. The people are so friendly and qualified, the location is convenient, the price is right... I'll be able to work more...

I should be thrilled, right? I just keep telling myself that it's time. Vi is ready. She is dying for more interaction, more education, more stimulation, more consistency. (Of course I'm hoping the consistency will help the night waking!) I'm ready for more consistency, more balance. Dan is ready for a less crazy wife. (We'll see.)

I guess that sums it up. We'll see.

I'll keep you posted.

Must whine...

I had to fire my sitter today. She didn't show up. Hard to fire someone who is not present. I just keep saying, in between spritzes of cooling lavender mist, "I'm very upset about this. Very upset. I'm very upset abou this. VERY." So, if you call to console me, be prepared for a broken record. Because I'm very upset about this. Very upset. Very, very upset.