Big Step

Last Friday I took Ainsley to a daycare for the first time. She has always been left before with family and close friends at our house. I was so nervous about it- but had made an internal deadline to do it soon. I was going to do it the previous week, but Ainsley had not been feeling well so I decided it would not be the best time.

Plan - drop her off and hope there was not a really big scene. I had visions of her holding onto my legs and screaming, "Mommy don't go!" Leading to both of us crying...

I took her in and walked her to her area. She immediately went to the toy kitchen they had and started playing. She completely ignored me. I spoke with the teacher and she continued to play. I said goodbye and she pretty much ignored me. I left, still no crying or reaction. When I got to my car, I looked through the window and she was still playing with the kitchen and foods. Amazing! I could not believe she handled it so well. I was so proud of her to adjust so well. At the same time I was thinking it was amazing how grown up she is!

I left her there for the morning- a little over four hours. I thought I would have tons of time to do things but the time went quickly. I went to HEB ( very exciting), planted a bunch of new plants, cleaned up a bit, showered and went back. Time was up.

When I arrived, she was sitting at a table eating lunch with several other kids. She said, "Hi Mommy" and kept eating.

The teacher gave me a list of the morning activities and the craft project Ainsley had done- a little wand with glitter. She also said that Ainsley had exhibited stranger anxiety- her newest thing. She would not let the teacher's touch her initially when she was upset. They said it improved after the first hour and then she did great. She participated in the class activities and everything.

When we left, she kept saying, "Fun, Fun." Hopefully she will continue to enjoy it - I am planning to take her back for a few hours at a time, gradually working up to a full day.

Ainsley's stranger anxiety seemed to develop very recently- in the past 4-6 weeks. It had been only with men, but apparently with women too. I am hoping the daycare and gym visits will help with it. Stranger anxiety seems pretty normal for kids, but I sure hope she gets over it quickly!