thankful for caregivers

(sweet pea learned how to use his utensils at school...)

i am so thankful that we stumbled upon a wonderful place for our children to be when we're at work. honestly it is one of the worst anxieties i have ever had - leaving sweet pea for the first time with strangers. i started my search before he was even born, and could never find a place i felt truly comfortable with. i was so fortunate to discover their school by "accident." in fact we went and visited right after his 1st birthday (two and a half years ago!) and didn't actually enroll him until he was 18 months. he had a hard time with separation (and truth be told it was so much harder for me). not only was i coping with working when i wanted to be home, but i felt such guilt about leaving him behind. i made it rough on him by my behavior and i seriously called to check on him almost every hour for that first week (ok...month).

(beans on his first day of school)

as sweet pea has moved from toddler room to toddler room and on upstairs to preschool, i have made some huge adjustments in my attitude towards school. i no longer see it as a destination for my children, but an integral part of who they are becoming. it's not that i'm passing him off to strangers, i've been active in choosing a great group of women who have been so loving to my kids for the better part of 3 years now. they are kind and compassionate and instill those values in all the kids. beans started in his toddler room not too long ago and he thrives. he's saying sentences (short 2-3 words), he's trying to count, he knows all the names of his classmates. he is the second child, but long past are the days of his crazy mommy crying all the way to work. it has been so much easier for us this time around. and sweet pea, although we have had our speed bumps with the transition to preschool, continues to show how much he learned and what an incredible foundation he was given in the toddler rooms. he is blossoming into an early reader - recognizing letters, numbers and words in every day situations. it has been wonderful watching those same kids we started out with 3 years ago. they have all stayed together and what a support and comfort for them to have familiar faces in preschool. it made that change so easy.

(sweet pea and a preschool friend on a playdate)

i can't say enough about my belief that everything happens for a reason. sometimes blessings come in unexpected ways. thank you ladies at the v2 and the v for taking such good care of our kids. we will forever be grateful! (and thanks for keeping the mohawk rockin' the other day!)