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Transitioning to day care from SAH...HELP!
I've been a SAHM with DS for the past year. I go back to work at the first of the year and DS will go to Montessori school full-time. The school is downtown, just 5 blocks from my office and right next to the courthouse. I plan to drop in on my lunch break and anytime I happen to be at court. We have orientation in a few weeks to meet the teacher and other kids, etc.
Any tips for helping DS transition from being at home with me to now going to Montessori school full-time? He is an easy-going baby for the most part, but very attached to me. I worry about the abruptness of moving back home and starting working/putting him in day care all within 2 weeks of each other, but there isn't an option to delay either.
Thanks!
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Re: Transitioning to day care from SAH...HELP!
My son didn't go to daycare until he was 3. (his dad & I always tried to work opposite shifts) I WILL NOT LIE, THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO WILL BE DIFFICULT. Yes I cried as I dropped him off and I saw the look on his face when I was leaving & heard him cry. They said the first 2 weeks he cried for about 45 min after I left. Then after that it was barely at all, and now I have to remind him to give me a hug when I drop him off. Daycare is great, they get to socialize, eat different foods, they learn sooo much (my son goes to a bilingual daycare....it is more of a pre-school than a daycare though) My son has bennefited greatly by the structure & he is a better boy at home. So just put on a brave face, give him lots of hugs & kisses, bring a favorite blanket or stuffed animal for him. Perhaps you can ask if you both can be there 1 hr a day so he can get use to the kids & teachers. Then maybe start backing away, stay in the room so he can see you, but try to let him be independant. Maybe that will give him a little bit of confidence & start to form a few relationships and it all won't be a shock to him. I'm not sure if going there on your lunchbreak is a good idea though. Then you both will have to go throught he heartbreak of you leaving again. Maybe after 2 months & he is really feeling confident & comfortable there then you could.
If the DC allows it, you might let him take a favorite stuffed toy or something the first couple of weeks.
That is what I had to do with DS after summer break when he started back to DC.
GL! ? ?
I agree it's not a good idea to go in the middle of the day to visit. I did that a couple time with DD and she got very upset because she didn't understand why I wasn't taking her with me since usually I came and left with her. And it will be hard on you to have to leave him again, especially if he is more upset than he was when you originally dropped him off.
I would ask them what they suggest. They may want you to bring him a couple days and sit in the class with him while he gets acquainted. And, while you may want to drop by at first and peek in to make sure he's ok. It will probably be disruptive for him to see you, unfortunately.
My kids started at an in home daycare and moved to a Montessori center FT in July. The first week was the worst, but it took a good 8 weeks for them to be happy going there. So, keep that in mind. They were happy during the day after drop off, but it was a long transition for them and they were already used to being apart from me. If they'd seen me during the day, they would have flipped. It's still hard for me to help out in DS's room sometimes when they have a party.