I always struggle with whether or not I should send Joshua to daycare when I’m home on a break. I feel like such a slacker mom, but I know that he loves his school and his friends and I do love being able to sleep and get things done.
Last night as we were driving home from dinner with friends, Dan said that if Joshua woke up early this morning, he’d do the daycare drop-off so I could rest after last week’s marathon of go-go-go. (LOVE THAT MAN.)
True to Joshua fashion, he started crying and whining at 6:00 a.m. which meant Dan would take him to daycare.
(Sidenote–Is mine the only toddler who wakes up crying and whining instead of talking? He’s perfectly happy, but he wakes up whining and crying instead of calling out to either of us.)
I slapped around on the side table to find my glasses, put them on, and stumbled down the hallway to his room, groaning in my head about how early it was.
I threw open his bedroom door and flipped on the light, shielding my eyes against the brightness of the room.
“Good morning!” I called out, with semi-fake cheerfulness in my voice.
“Guh mornin’, Mama,” he replied, with nothing but genuine cheerfulness in his.
I lifted Joshua out of his crib and he laid his head on my shoulder, getting in a morning Mama Snuggle. Then he squirmed his way down to the floor, saying “I need change my soaky butt!”
I must have looked unusually not my self, because he asked “Why you sad, Mama!? Don be sad!”
In truth, I was sad. I’m always sad when I think about sending him to daycare when I’m going to be home, even if I know it’s good for both of us. (And I’m always sad to be waking up at 6 a.m. but that’s beside the point.)
“I’m not sad, Joshua. Just sleepy.”
“Jus sweepy…”
I helped him stand up and he retrieved his Thomas the Train flashlight from the bookshelf where we’d put it the night before. Then he spotted the box of Thomas books in the floor.
“I needa weed dis books, Mama!” And he sat down on the floor and opened the box.
“Thomas needa weed Cwack in da Twack.” So Thomas the flashlight got a book.
“Annie needa weed Bwue Train, Gween Train.” So Annie got a book.
“Mama needa weed Stop, Twain, Stop!” So I got a book.
“I needa weed Go, Twain, Go.” So he got a book, too.
And we sat there, at 6:00 in the morning, reading books in his bedroom floor. Joshua, me, the dog, and the flashlight, each with a book of our own.
My work here is done, people. I have a happy boy who loves to read.
Both my Mama Heart and my English Teacher Heart are full.
Katie
Friday 24th of February 2012
we had a snow day today. I felt guilty that Eddie was going to daycare, but oh mah lawd did I enjoy the absolute nothing I did all day.
pinkflipflops
Monday 20th of February 2012
aww. one should not feel guilt about utilizing daycare. that is why you pay them.
Miranda
Friday 24th of February 2012
I know. I know. I shouldn't feel bad. And I do. Every time.
Teresa
Monday 20th of February 2012
You are a good mommy for taking these special moments with your baby. Do not feel guilty. Just know that I would send mine for some sanity rest if I could!
Miranda
Friday 24th of February 2012
Oh, I love having the option. But truthfully, even when he's making me insane, I love having him with me, too.
Suz
Monday 20th of February 2012
:)
Miranda
Friday 24th of February 2012
Love this kid.
katery
Monday 20th of February 2012
i often wonder the same thing about sending louise to daycare when i am off, although, that's not very often.
Miranda
Friday 24th of February 2012
I fight this battle every.single.time. I mean, how much "me" time do I really need, you know? Even if I'm paying, I feel so incredibly guilty.