Daycare

The dreaded day arrived on June 1st, the day that Liam started daycare! I spent the night before ironing little "Liam Robinson" labels into all of his outfits, sticking labels on pacifiers and putting waterproof, rubber labels on bottles. I was a labeling Nazi! I had ordered an extra large diaper bag in fire engine red just for Liam to take to daycare and I filled the entire bag and then some with all of his favorites. I did not want him to do without anything. Amongst those items like butt paste, diapers, extra clothes, bottles, etc. were his puppy dog lovey, his Sophie giraffe, toy colored links, Liam striped blanket, binkers, and of course his own crib sheets that match his home sheets! And yes, they were all "necessary." Necessary because I felt so horribly guilty that I was having to drop my sweet little baby off at daycare. Necessary because sending him with all of those items made me feel better.

I have been agonizing over daycare since before Liam was born. We went back and forth on nanny versus daycare and determined after several lists of pros and cons that we would try daycare. Then, it was a search to find the right place. The first stop was the Montessori school. The one closest to our house came highly recommended and while I am sure it is wonderful, there was something about leaving him in one of those plexiglass boxes on the floor that was unsettling. I wanted Liam to sleep in a crib - why? I dunno... I just do! and that was that! Next on the list was Creme de la Creme. A very pricey, mini Disneyland for babies. They even have a little bridge you cross in the middle of the daycare. Real cribs? check! And while there is no price you can put on Liam's little head and the extra $3 a day for diapers was not ridiculous at all... we decided that if we had to do a daycare, I would rather Liam be in a loving, Christian environment where other children I knew had gone before. Because if their children turned out okay, then surely mine would too!

Bill had to stand in line at 4am just to get us a spot at daycare. At 4am he was 12th in line. Really? I guess that means this is a pretty good place (at least that is what I keep telling myself). And then, after the decision was made... God sent us a wink! Turns out that a co-worker (former Accenture and now Spectra) had a sister that graduated from A&M and had a son 5 days after Liam... it just so happens that he too, attends Liam's daycare and their cribs are right next to each other! I love his mom and I know we are going to be great friends... and hopefully our boys as well!

As a parent, your hope is that you are able to give your child everything. You are willing to sacrifice anything for your child and all you want is for them to be happy, healthy and maybe a little spoiled! I never wanted to expose my child to daycare germs or allow someone else to experience Liam's first steps. I never imagined that I would not be the one to fix every meal, nurture his growth and plan daily activities. I wanted to do like my other girlfriends that don't work and take Liam to gymboree on Tuesday mornings and go to the park in the middle of the afternoon. But, sometimes, things don't always go according to plan. Some mommies work. And I am working on that balance... that delicate balance.

As for Liam? he is doing just fine! First day report was that he talks a ton and is super happy! He comes by the talking quite naturally I am afraid and I will say that he truly is a happy baby! The ladies are wonderful and so loving. They do not even wait for you to unhook Liam from his car seat before scooping him up and taking him to play. Everyday I came in to find my happy, smiling son still in one piece!

As for the germs? One of the lovely mommies brought their snotty-nosed child to daycare sick. Green means sick lady! So, Liam and all his new little friends are sick after only their first week at daycare... and things were going so well! Liam still smiles through the sniffles. We propped his bed up so he wouldn't drain, bought a humidifier and this mommy made her little honey a doctor's appointment, because even though he doesn't have a fever, I cannot bare to hear that little cough! Damn daycare.... delicate balance...delicate balance!