Am I the weird one - daycare

cpete5

So, we dropped our 9-week-old off at daycare for the first time this morning. I didn't cry. And now I'm at work and I feel... OK. There was this other mom there who was looking at daycares (this one is booked up, so she's on the wait list) and she was in tears just thinking about daycare.

Am I the weird one here? I love my baby, but I love my job, too. And I make a ton of money.

Obviously there was a little tug at my heart when I placed him in a stranger's arms, but I know that "stranger" is going to become someone my child knows and trusts.

I dunno, I just feel like there's a lot of mommy guilt going around. Somehow, I'm not getting any of that. Anyone else feel great on the first day of daycare?

ChicagoWeded2007

Hah! I teared up a bit, but it was the thought of my son getting so big! I am not too upset about daycare either. I was glad to get back to work and pay someone else to change poopy diapers Guess we are cold hearted! I'm glad to hear I'm not alone.

katieh1017

I was fine too. I didn't cry. I wondered what she was doing and I still do but I don't really worry about her. I know she is in good hands, I love her DC and I can tell she loves it too. I also like my job (although it can be boring) and I like the lifestyle we are able to have as a family with a dual income.

It's so great seeing her big smile and shrieking when she sees me!

jennyelf

I was fine too. It's good to see I'm not alone in this.

breannie

I dropped my DS off for the first time this morning too. I cried a little bit, but once the initial shock was over I feel fine. I know he is in good hands and I am not worried about him. I am still looking forward to picking him up in a few hours though!

danieliza1127

I didn't cry when I took my LO to daycare for the first time either.  I was a little nervous all day and wondering how he was doing, but I didn't cry.  It's just a fact of life and I didn't have a choice, I want to work so he has to go to daycare.  And I trust the person he's with so, I don't know, that's that I guess.

wychets

I cried knowing I had to start looking for daycares and then on her 1st day I cried ince I got in my car.

financialdiva

mainerocks:

Everyone's different. I cried like a baby and 2 years later, I still do when I see another mom doing the same. nbsp;It wasn't so much mommy guilt for me, just having to leave my baby for 11 hours when we had been attached at the hip for 3 months... it was brutal.

I am with you mainerocks. And I thought I was the weird one for being so upset.

You're right. Everyone is different.

Pesky

Didn't cry with either.  Went on my way.  I knew they would be fine and fascinated by the new environment.  I knew it would be good for me to do what I liked.  Win-win.

ASmallWonder

I love my kid hard but practically didn't blink an eye when I dropped him off the first time. I will say that if you ever end up having to switch places, don't be surprised if you're more upset/apprehensive than this time. As they get older, you realize that the change is impacting them so your upset comes from being worried that THEY are sad or unhappy. In the newborn stage, there's really no such thing. Someone will feed them, change them and love on them and they're going to be happy

Sonadora

Didn't really phase me. Of course, I also started a new job the same day, so I had a lot of other things to think about. But I like working and know that I would make a terrible SAHM and it would not make me or B happy. I stayed home for 6 months when she was born and that was quite enough.

SoldiersGreenBean

You are not the only one.  Not by a long shot.

rabstbmom

I'd say the way you described your response is how I'd describe mine. DS was 8 weeks old when he started daycare. I felt a little emotional tug and called my mom to half-joke/half-not about "abandoning my baby" at daycare.

But I also knew that: 1) we can't afford for me to be a SAHM (not sure I'd be cut out to be one either), so going to back to work was never a question, and 2) I was leaving him in an established in-home daycare run by the SIL of some friends of mine and so, I trusted the DCP probably as much as or more than any new mom in that situation could be expected to trust a care provider.

Breezy8407

The first day of daycare I cried, but our situation was different. We had decided on a nanny before the babies arrived. That didn't work out, so we had to scramble to find a daycare in less than a week. I think it was the time we had to search and run though the gamut of emotions involved in such a short time.

I didn't cry the first day we left them with the nanny. I think it was because that was the decision we made and had time to search, and felt good about it.

pc150805

I didn't cry either. I hate taking her to daycare, but it is what we have to do so I don't give it much thought. I am constantly looking for a better daycare to move her to once she is older. All in all I don't freak out much.

skibunny59

Today was my first day back at work and although I do like my job and I had a good day, I was not happy at all about leaving DD.  My mom is taking care of DD so I knew she was in good hands, but I still cried all the way to work after I dropped her off this morning. 

I'm really not happy with the fact that I had to go back to work.  I would love to be able to stay at home with my DD but we just can't afford it right now.

skibunny59

mainerocks:

Everyone's different. I cried like a baby and 2 years later, I still do when I see another mom doing the same.  It wasn't so much mommy guilt for me, just having to leave my baby for 11 hours when we had been attached at the hip for 3 months... it was brutal.

These are my feelings exactly.  I was home on maternity leave for 6 months with DD and I am very attached to her.  It was very hard leaving her today.  She did great with my mom.  I was the one who was a mess.  I am hoping it will get better.

laurakaz13

Nope!  You're not the weird one. I'm just like you.  I have a great career that I love. 

Now, 14 months after DD began daycare at 3 months old, I absolutely love and adore her DCP's.  So does she. 

groovygrl

Me too... I was very ready to go back to work after 5 months at home w/ my twins and never cried (and sadly after the first week or 2 I forgot to even look at the webcam many days whereas other people I knew had it open all day long on their computers...)... (until a few weeks ago but my 3 yr old is going through a thing and it is stressing me out, LOL!)

Mike_Patti

I was sad when I dropped her off that first day, but I made it through the day ok without major emotional breakdown. Otherwise I was fine. I am not cut out to be a SAHM and I know the whole thing is for the best.

emberlee3

I felt nervous, but I didn't cry.

kacelle

DD started part-time DC at 3 months and FT a few months later.  I've never cried dropping her off or thinking about her throughout the day.  I love her to death, but I love having adult time at work and I feel like I'm much better suited to be a WM than a SAHM.  You're not alone!

AdaraMarie

I was fine the first day, but a mess the second day.

danigirl7181

Inkogneetoh:

My mom watches LO so maybe it's different for me because she doesn't go to a traditional DCP, but I didn't shed a single tear.  I missed her but it felt damn good to be out of the house again in normal clothes and talking to other adults.

This exactly, I was happy to be back at work and have adult time.  

BuckeyeNut05

Yes! I love my girls, but twins were a ton of work on my own with my husband at work. I dropped them off with a big smile and then listened to loud, inappropriate music the whole way to work. :