So Rick and I decided it would be best to start the kids early at their daycare so they can get adjusted while I am still home, should anything go wrong. Not sure what could go wrong that the daycare couldn't handle, mainly it was so WE could get adjusted too! So before their first full week of school, we took kids for short visits, walked around school, met teachers, etc. We took pics of them with their teachers, we created a book to read to to them filled with pics of their school, teachers, playgrounds, etc. We talked about it. We 'marked' down to the date on a calendar crossing out days until our first day of school. And you know what---- all that great stuff did us no good! We expected H to cry- good grief she is 9 months old. But we didn't count on J screaming and pulling on our shirts and US crying too! WOW- this was by far the hardest thing to do for J & H! He had a hard time since he's used to Mrs. Julie's (that is all he has ever known) and being home with me all summer and now going to a big school/building, with lots of classrooms, H is in another room, lots of new faces (teachers and kids).
The saving grace was the school has monitors in the office- so I could leave J & H crying with their teachers to handle (b/c that is what good parents do....I know that from the teacher side of things- much better for parents to leave and allow teachers to take over). So I would go in the office and watch on the TV's to see both of them settle down nicely (H settling much easier and faster than J). So by the end of the week- J is finally napping, eating, going on the big playground and riding the trike-- and then well the weekend comes!!! I'm glad we did this 2 weeks before I go to school- it was nice for me not to have to rush off to school and instead I could sit there and watch them for myself that they did stop crying quickly and have fun in lieu of the tears I had to wipe away as I left.
Their school has been amazing~ they call to fill me in, encourage me to stay and watch the TV's and really worked wonders helping J feel good and comfortable. So here's to a good school year with a new school for 3 out of the 4 people in this family!
