First Day of School

Will started school this week.  Yes, I call daycare “school” instead of daycare.  I think it sounds more pleasant, and by calling it “school” it implies that he is learning something while he is there.  Which he is.

I was unsure how he would adjust.  It took him over two weeks to take a bottle when he stayed home with Steve.  So I wasn’t sure how he would do for strangers.  His (future) teachers suggested that we start dropping him off for 30 minutes in the mornings so he can become used to them, and the environment.  So we did that for about 2 weeks, and I think it helped.

Luckily, we have been through this before.  So I somewhat knew what to expect.  I at least knew what to pack.  And he got a new backpack for the occasion.

 

The contents include:

·         3-3oz bottles of breastmilk

·         6 cloth diapers

·         Wetbag

·         3 changes of clothes

·         Pacifier and clip

·         3 spare disposable diapers (for those extra messy days)

·         Naptime toy (he likes to fall asleep with something soft rubbing on his face)

 

When we walked into the room on the first day, I could tell those babies were having a case of the Mondays.  Total chaos.  I think it overwhelmed Will because he instantly started to cry when we walked in.  He was not happy.  I put him on the floor with a boppy behind him in case he fell over (he’s still learning how to sit – he’s pretty good, but still sometimes falls).  I quickly learned that he had a favorite swing in the room.  So that’s where I started putting him when I dropped him off.  Makes sense, since he usually takes a morning nap anyway.

Every day I nurse him at lunch, and by Wednesday, he was totally oblivious to me arriving.  He was also way too busy and distracted to nurse well.  So I started to nurse him in the church library which is a little quieter, but, apparently it is still way too interesting to look at, as he still doesn’t eat well during “lunch” – but I think it’s just his age too.

Overall, he adjusted better than I could have expected.  It took my daughter an entire 2 weeks to really adjust.  But, she did not have the opportunity to transition the same way he did, and she also started 4 weeks earlier than he did (she was 5mo, Will is 6mo). 

This week I threw some solids into the mix.  He will now be getting “breakfast” at school.  Also, in June, all children will move up to their new classrooms for the 2013-2014 school year.  While it will be another transition for him, the teachers will mostly be the same.  I think he will do fine.  Abby on the other hand, will probably have a harder time.  She will be graduating to a preschool room!