Counting Down to Daycare – Mommy Blogger

08/21/2018

Teri Parkhurst is a marketing and communications professional who is currently on maternity leave with her first child, a beautiful baby boy. 

As a new mom, I’m sure I’m not alone in marking, celebrating and eagerly awaiting those precious milestones. First night at home, first smile, first giggle, first tooth, first full night of sleep, first roll over, first baby babble, first solid foods—the list is seemingly endless during the first 12 months of your little one’s life. And while most milestones are happy events, some invoke other emotions, or at least have for me. Just ask my husband about the tears I shed when we had to start packing away our son’s little newborn clothes because he no longer fit into those tiny onesies and itty-bitty sleepers.

Now, a few days past the 11-month mark of our son’s life, the clock is ticking towards one of our biggest milestones yet, and one that is already causing a mess of thoughts and emotions. I am heading back to work mid-September, which means our son will start going to daycare in a couple of weeks, starting with a couple shorter visits so he can get used to the place where he will soon spend many of his days.

We haven’t even started taking him yet, and I’m already emotional. On the positive side: I am looking forward to returning to my job, seeing my amazing colleagues every day, having regular conversations with actual adults who are not my husband (no offense babe), and thinking about and working on things other than singing the ABCs or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (badly), and if we have time to run to the store and get back before naptime. I also really do believe daycare is going to be great for our kiddo. I’m excited for him to spend time with other kids every day, and to participate in all the awesome activities our daycare provider plans for them. It also helps that we found a fabulous place for him to go.

On the negative side: someone else is going to get all that time with him that I’ve gotten used to getting. I’ve never been away from him for a full day, and he’s never been taken care of by someone who isn’t family. I know he’s going to love it once he’s used to the new routine; I’m honestly more worried about how I’m going to handle it.

Logically, I know it’s just another milestone we’re going to mark together, in a whole life full of milestones. My husband will be there to hug me if (read: when) I cry outside the daycare, and my little guy will be there at the end of my first workday with hugs. It’s big. It’s scary. It’s exciting. It will be hard, but it will be OK. And for now, I’m going to enjoy the last few weeks we have together, and sing the ABCs again while I still have an audience who can’t complain about my voice.