Posts tagged daycare
Kids are like Instant Pots
Kids are like Instant Pots

Several months in, I had hoped my JKer would have been more…settled. Pulling her home in the wagon with a snack had helped - in that it delayed the explosion of feelings until we were off school property and safely within the confines of home. How could I make this challenging time with both my kids more manageable, I pondered. Maybe I could try setting up an activity on the table for when they arrive home? Maybe I should check in with her teachers? Maybe she needs more movement - what physical play could we do?...

My reverie was broken by the beep as I was summoned to perform the final and most dramatic step of the Instant Pot cooking process. I switched the valve from sealing to venting and stood back and marvelled at the loud eruption of steam - not unlike my 4-year-old at 3:30 PM

That’s when it hit me - my child is like an Instant Pot. 

This metaphor is so good it has literally made parenting easier! Let me break it down for you:

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Daycare, Highly sensitive Kids, Parenting, Play, Starting schoolHeather Sandegentle parenting, restraint collapse, afterschool meltdown, starting daycare, daycare, parenting, parent coach, Parent coach Guelph, Instant pot parenting
Daycare Drop Offs: When does the crying stop?
Daycare Drop Offs: When does the crying stop?

How long before my child stops crying at drop off?

When does it get easier?

I can hear my daughter crying as I leave the daycare and it’s excruciating!

When transitioning to daycare, all we are thinking about is how to stop the crying. It’s loud, intense and having to walk away when they are still upset, feels awful. Stopping the crying can become the goal.

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Daycare, ToddlerHeather Sandecrying, tears, daycare, drop off, separation anxiety, separation, big feelings, returning to work, matchmaking
Starting Daycare
Starting Daycare

I vividly remember my first daycare drop off with my eldest. My husband and I went together and it was a good thing because I couldn’t speak. As soon as we entered the room, the lump in my throat was the size of a baseball. I knew if I opened my mouth, the only thing to come out would be giant sobs. I wasn’t expecting that. I went into the whole thing, sort of like, “this is what we do now...I go to work, baby starts daycare”. Obviously the whole experience was much more complex and intense (qualities I’m more looking for in a bottle of wine). Now I’m about to do it again with my second and I have a much different approach.

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Parenting, DaycareHeather Sandedaycare, drop off, returning to work, separation anxiety, clinginess, tantrums, separation, connection, bridging, matchmaking, goodbyes, cooperation, play