tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14001577.post7039987776836988132..comments2023-10-30T05:18:15.195-07:00Comments on We Love Astrid: Preschool for AstridRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716790047260146358noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14001577.post-61885938234469756612007-12-28T14:33:00.000-08:002007-12-28T14:33:00.000-08:00Amy,Thanks so much for your post. It helps to know...Amy,<BR/>Thanks so much for your post. It helps to know other moms have gone through it (and survived!) and I'm not alone in my trepidation about sending her off to school all day without me. <BR/><BR/>I'll feel a whole lot better about it when we find the right preschool and from there things will fall into place.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10716790047260146358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14001577.post-38175142778159985402007-12-28T13:59:00.000-08:002007-12-28T13:59:00.000-08:00Ohhh, there are so many things I want to say about...Ohhh, there are so many things I want to say about this post. I KNOW how hard it is for you to think about sending her off to a daycare--I took 14 months off when B&B were born, and then went back to work. It was torture for me (awesome that U says he'll take a week off to help her acclimate!).<BR/><BR/>I agree with your assessment that maybe they are taking the Montessori mindset a little far in requiring students as young as 3 to request assistance before they'll give it. The class seems large to me, too. Mine have 8-10 students in their class, and are grouped with other 2 year olds only. I like that. What I don't like is that while they do curriculum in the morning, it seems to be a lot of unstructured play in the afternoon, including t.v. I'm not categorically opposed to t.v. (love Sesame Street and my kids love Dora), but I limit it and am not sure I like them being exposed to things that aren't of my choosing. I'm glad mine are only there 2 hours after they wake from naps (love the schoolteacher hours!). <BR/><BR/>I worried about many of the same things--naps (I laughed OUT LOUD when they told me they would sleep with the other kids in the room on mats. Then I saw it for myself about a month after mine started. Turns out the daycare knew what they were talking about.), food (ours is the opposite--they won't let you bring your own lunch, barring a medical reason. I was worried b/c we eat organically and pretty healthy at my house. While they don't serve organic milk or fruits/veggies, they do serve healthy, hot meals each day and my kids have become better, more well-rounded eaters as a result), and the attachment issues (which are rarely a problem for us. After a break, like this Christmas one, Brayden may whine a little when I leave them, but my kids truly LIKE going to "school").<BR/><BR/>While I didn't initially want to go back to work, now I am so glad I did. It affords us financial freedom, as well as a little grown-up time for me. That may sound selfish, but I'm reminded at times like 2 week Christmas breaks just how much easier it is to go to work everyday than to stay home with B&B. That's not to say I'm 100% happy 100% of the time--I, like you, would prefer a part-time job. <BR/><BR/>The bottom line is that my kids are happy, healthy, and learning so much more than if I were at home with them everyday. And? The daycare we use displays such love for my kids--from the manager to the teacher, I have always felt like they consider their job to be loving the kids. <BR/><BR/>I know it is hard, and I wish you the best of luck. I hope you find a place that gives you that peace of mind.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473178461700511405noreply@blogger.com