Pre-school/MDO starting a week after I get home with new baby!

jenna1008

My son is 2.5 years-old.  He is enrolled in a preschool program that will begin in August. Here are my concerns...

1. He's not even 3 yet.  We do playgroups.  He is doing great developmentally.  Why should I even put him in the program?

2. It is supposed to begin ONE WEEK after I get home from the hospital (scheduled c/s) with his new baby sister.  I'm petrified that this will be too much change for him.

I just wonder if this is too much change for him all at once.  I have always stayed home with him, and I don't want him to feel like I'm kicking him out.  His program is only four hours twice per week, so it will only buy me about three hours between drop off and pick up.

What would you do?

lollitots

Make a HUGE deal about this being all about him, and how he gets to do this special fun thing and send him. I wouldn't even bring up the baby when talking about it. I would have someone else bring him for the first week or two (special time in the car with just him and Daddy/Grandma - maybe have them take him out for ice cream after) since you will be home recovering and wanting some little sleep. Make some Mommy/son time later in the day.

It will be a huge change but they adjust to both school and the new baby. I think that in the end he will love going to preschool and you will love the few hours with just the baby.

luckyluvr

My 4 yo. DS had never been to daycare/preschool, etc., but he started preschool 1 week to the day after my c/s, and he did just fine. Like PP said, we hyped it up for a long time. I made a countdown calendar for him to cross off after dinner every night, and kept telling him that right after his new brother was here, he was going to go to school. He has seen cartoon characters, like Caillou, go to preschool, so he was excited. We also did 2 visits before he started. He was nervous the first week, but he loved it and is now excited every day he goes (he started his 5th week today). The first week, I took him to get a lemonade before we went home. Also, the first week, I took him to school even though I was still recovering and dealing with a week old baby. I reassured him I would pick him up after playtime, and the whole family (us, grandparents, aunt/uncle) made a huge deal of it before he started and once he started. I hope it goes as well for your DS as it did for mine. Preschool is a wonderful thing

UGAbride

This is how it was for us, too.  DS #1 started preschool about 2 weeks before DS #2 was born (he was 18 months old and went two mornings a week from 9-1).  Honestly, it was the best decision for our family.  DS got to go do something fun and that was all about him, rather than having to sit home and watch mommy feed the baby 24/7.  We did playgroups and lots of outings, too, but he totally loved preschool.  It also gave me some alone time with the baby, so we truly benefitted all around from that decision.  It was really a no-brainer for us.