Monday, August 29, 2005

It's hard to drive with tears in your eyes

Muffin Man has spent the last 18 months or so in one classroom at his daycare. He's had mostly the same teachers for that whole time.

All summer he was so excited about moving up into the next class (his best friend is there) and being a big boy.

Until today.

"No, Mommy! I want to go to MY room. I don't want to go in this room. This isn't my room! Mommy! Don't leave me! No! No! NOOOOO!"

It didn't help that I was not actually dropping him off in his new room because the teachers for that room don't arrive today until 11:00. Eventually, I let him go back into his old room until his new teachers come in. Then I had to pry his fingers off my neck.

I ended up putting my watch in his pocket. "See, Muffin Man? You have Mommy's watch. Mommy's watch will be with you all day. I'll come and pick you up later. It will all be okay."

"Bring my blanket back in here!!!!" (I'd taken his nap-time gear into the new room, his blanket is a quilt that QuiltsAlot made for him, and he has a flannel sheet too. He snuggles into them at naptime and reads a book quietly because heaven forbid he should actually take a nap at school.)

"Miss Director will bring it to you later. Big hugs and kisses now."

And so I got my hugs and kisses, but boy howdy, was it ever hard to leave him.

12 comments:

ccw said...

Oh, poor MM. I'm sure he'll be fine by the time you pick him up, but I know it was hard to leave him.

Anonymous said...

You've been tagged!

Running2Ks said...

Liz, I am so sorry. These milestones are sometimes painful. I hold out hope that your adorable little guy will adjust over the next week and be thrilled to go. HUGS!

Suzanne said...

Transitions can be so painful, for everyone! I think the watch idea is fabulous -- giving him something tangible that reminds him of you, to be a source of comfort for him as he adjusts to the new room.

Liz Miller said...

I just hope there's no repeat of the hysterical and panicked sobbing.

I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.

Phantom Scribbler said...

Aw, I'm so sorry, Liz. What a tough way to start the day.

SuzanH said...

I hope tomorrow is better for both of you.

I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you. Big hugs and good thoughts to all of you.

Suburban Turmoil said...

That sounds so difficult! You know, I remember feeling like that when I was very little at daycare. I'm sure he got right down to business, though, once you were gone.

I'll be thinking of you guys and keeping my fingers crossed!

susan said...

It is so hard to leave like that....I hope he enjoyed himself eventually and that tomorrow will be easier. Sounds like it wasn't a good school plan to have the teachers not available until pretty late in the day--I would think that would be hard on everyone.

Yankee, Transferred said...

Even though it has been so, so, so many years, I remember it really well. Older Daughter SOBBED when I took her to her new preschool when she was three. They DO survive. Better than we do, I think.

HUGS

Anonymous said...

Oh, Liz, that's hard! But he'll settle into his new room soon. In the 5 years J. was at daycare, I saw this happen a bunch of times and the kids always settled in happily before long.

And we will have a meetup before too long!

purple_kangaroo said...

Awww, poor little guy. The Mommy's watch trick is a good one . . . I used it with one of my daughters to help her stay in her room by herself at bedtime. I hope it helped for him!