fifth time's the charm

Yesterday was Britton's first day of daycare at her new daycare. This makes a total of FIVE first days of daycare, but hopefully this will be the last first day of daycare for a while! The first two times she moved daycares is because we moved and staying at the old center would be impossible. The last two moves were because the centers weren't a good fit for her. For instance, her third daycare's teacher was out sick Britton's first week, which (unbeknownst to us) meant Britton got stuck in a high chair in the infant room all day. There was no real plan in place for dealing with a teacher being out. Not cool. And this last center was mediocre, but became more and more frustrating every day. For instance, I would pick her up early and find all the teachers congregated around, chatting with each other and paying no attention to the kids. Also, the center began accepting state daycare assistance, which resulted in Britton's classmates changing on a weekly basis - not exactly consistency in my book. In addition, in the three months Britton has been attending she has brought home THREE pieces of art total - her entire day consisted of individual playtime with no real schedule. And the last straw was when she had to move rooms because her regular room was so overcome by an unknown odor that it had to be investigated. The results? A dead animal in the ceiling of her room. In a word, it sucked. But you know what doesn't suck? PIGTAILS!





Whoops, totally digressed there. So the hub and I toured some other centers and found her new daycare to be a good fit. The teachers have been there for years, the random woman I stopped in the parking lot gave it raving reviews, and it offers webcams so I can keep an eye on her during the day. I took her Monday morning, and granted she was apprehensive at first. but we charged on, and sat at the little tables for breakfast. And you know what? Britton started grinning, and TALKING very loudly at some times, and generally began to enjoy herself. I escorted her to her room and hung out while the teacher did diaper checks. Britton didn't need a new diaper, and the boys in her class started running the length of the room back and forth and giggling up a storm. And Britton joined right in. I was so proud! The teacher mentioned that they do potty training in Britton's class, but since Britton hasn't shown an interest in potty training, is unable to pull her pants up or down by herself, and does not identify her bodily functions, I told her teacher not to start with Britton and that we would let her know when Britton was ready. She told me that was fine, and just like that an open dialogue was begun.

Then it was time for circle time, and Britton sat on her shape on the carpet, and listened intently, and participated. She even stole a book from another girl, but you know what? That's what they do at that age and Britton gave the girl another book in return. The teacher and I decided that it would be a good time for me to leave as she could devote attention to Britton if she threw a fit.

And she threw a fit. But I called back later that day and they reported that Britton had done extremely well and was enjoying herself. When the hub picked her up early she was playing outside with her new class and having fun. Suffice it to say, I feel very relieved.

Now, this morning a winter storm hit the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, shutting down Britton's daycare and my and the hub's workplaces. And tomorrow again everything is shut down because the roads are covered in ice. You know, in West Virginia we called this a "dusting" and went about our regular day, but here nobody is used to such weather and they get on the roads and crash their sedans. At least Britton will have two days at home (nursing a cold which has sprung up) and then going back to the new daycare for only two more days of this week. It is a nice transition for her to not have to go all day for five straight days. So, I am looking forward to seeing how Britton enjoys her new daycare and new teacher and what great things she is going to get to do there.