Today, the kids started a new day care. We loved having in-home care, but with such a tight budget, we just couldn't afford it any more. Even with two toddlers, day care is still far less expensive. The kids had a really good time. They got right to playing and did not even give me a moment's glance when I said goodbye. When I returned to take Peanut to his cranial check-up, I asked how they were doing and if they cried at all. Nope, not a tear all morning. I was so glad. The thing is, our kids don't get to play with other little ones as much. Mostly because Mommy has to work. Which means, there are few playdate possibilities. They have the church nursery on Sunday morning and a few group events, but that's about it. I really love the idea of them socializing with other children.
The challenge came when I entered the room. Pumpkin was on her nap mat and was just waking up. Peanut was on his mat and had just fallen asleep. Great...I was disrupting both of them.

Pumpkin realized quickly that I was taking her brother and not her and her little lip trembled. She grabbed my leg and started to wail. Her "No! I don't want this! Do what I say NOW!" wail. It is the same one she gives when we have to end play to change a diaper or do bathtime. Not that I'm saying she wasn't genuinely upset. I didn't know how to help her understand that I would be right back and her brother had to go to the doctor and that I would come back later to take them both home for dinner, bath and story. Instead, I gave her a hug and a kiss and a toy to play with. Then we left. I felt so bad for my little Princess Pumpkin! I know she was having fun and is well cared for. And, on the plus side, it is obvious that our attachment is going well. I just didn't like seeing my little girl so unhappy.

And at the end of the day, I came back and they were all sitting with the other toddlers on cute little itty-bitty chairs all around a table, doing an activity. No tears and perfectly content. When they say me they both started laughing and clapping their hands. And then, get this...Pumpkin didn't seem in a rush to leave. She wanted to show me the toys first, and then roll around on the floor.

I think by Thursday they will be acting like they've been there forever.

One weird and interesting part? I had mother's guilt all the way home and upon coming to a quiet house.  I had thirty minutes before I needed to log in on my work computer and no one to feed, change, clean, walk, dress, or play with. I had something I haven't had in months. FREE TIME!! All to myself! Guess what I did? Write? Read? Run lines? No, no and no. Those are all items on my daily To-Do list that never, ever ends.

What did I do with those rare thirty minutes? I took a long over-due NAP!!