I missed my lil man today :-(

Lil Mr went for his first day of childcare today I start work on Thursday but wanted to try and ease him and me into it early. They all said he is such a happy baby and was such a good boy he only grizzled when he was tired and hungry and the rest of the time slept or sat happily playing in the rocker..

I missed him so much though the house felt empty without him I went up 3 times to see him and ended up bringing him home at 3pm. Daddy was saying how good it was to have a break but I look after Ryan 24/7 and I didn't want to leave him any longer :(

How am I going to cope working, I only have a 30minute lunchbreak and is a 10minute drive there and back from work but a 1min drive from our house (it's on the corner of the top street from us). I keep telling myself it's only 2 months work so we can be financially secure and have some savings because if anything goes wrong we live tight and wouldn't have much money to fix it or vet bills etc.

How did you find ways to cope? Ryan loves the attention, I keep looking at his picture saying I need to do it for him I just don't want to be an emotional wreck at work!

You'll cope...you'll have plenty to keep your mind occupied when you're at work and the childcare centres don't mind how often you call to see how your child is doing. It's also a bit of time for you to get back to "you". You'll be just fine!! :)

Celticmoon, I know how you feel. My little one is starting childcare two days a week as of next Monday. Its very scary. A couple of months will go so fast though! Ryan will probably love it and he will learn to socialise with new people. How many days is Ryan attending? I hope it all works out for you.

It's casual work but it's fulltime work Mon-Friday for around about two months at a university for the start of semester. They wanted me to start at the start of December but I said it was really too soon and I really wanted the extra time with Ryan and they still wanted me to work. I know my boss will probably let me go visit Ryan once or twice if I get really upset if it means I keep working there. I'm going to take a photo and stick it on a piece of paper saying "Do it for me mum" to put on the board behind my comp as motivation to be strong :).

The one thing that I found upset me the most was the 'daycare' smell, he didn't have his normal baby smell he smelt slightly perfumed like the centre, silly I know but it still made me cry lol

My DS only goes one day a week so I always look forward to it so I can get a bit of 'me' time. But I never enjoy it like I think I will because I miss him so much. I don't need to send him but I don't want to take him out now because he really enjoys it there. What holds me back from going there during the day is that I think seeing me come and go several times will actually upset him because he has a routine there. Otherwise I would drop in 'just to be sure'. But I know that for his happiness there that I can't.

Big hugs. I know how you feel. My only advice is to develop a good bond with his carers so you have trust in how they will care for him. Then let him enjoy the new toys and the interaction with other kids.

I so get that, and Darcy was way older when I had to leave her. I never goes away but it does become easier. It is a hard thing you're doing. Don't beat yourself up, consentrate on the positives for him and for you. :hug:
I still hate that smell.
Like Krys says develop a relationship with the carers. The girls at our centre are wonderful and that has made it so much easier for me. They have a very similar caring 'technique' i guess you would call it, to me, so I was happy knowing it is consistent for Darcy. She too is a child of routine - so much so that on Christmas day she woke up (or was woken up I should admit) and said, "school mum?"

Babe after a few times going there Ryan will love it so much,...and u will feel great knowing he is enjoying it. Chelsea loves day care....granted she was 4-5 months when she started.

He will be ok :)

I found it difficult being away from DD when she first started Child Care. The first week she went, my friends all took turns keeping me occupied so I was distracted. But I hounded DH to finish work early so he could pick her up early and bring her home to me (1 car family and he did the drop off and pick up back then). It felt so good to see her smile when she saw me and to get that extra special hug. When I went back to work in her second week, it was easier but still difficult. I think I held off calling until about 1pm (which nearly killed me!) and my boss and coworkers did their absolute best to keep me busy and distracted. I still have days where I miss her immensely and "have" to call the centre to check on her (even though I know she is fine because if she wasn't, they would have called me!) - but it does become easier.
Good luck going back to work and I hope you enjoy the 2 months work.

MG

I dropped him off this morning and he was all smiles and laughs, they said they've never seen such a content and happy lil bubby before. I brought him into bed with me this morning for cuddles, all the mums dropping off their kids were all over him and he was smiling away. I'm going to try and last until 3pm before picking him up will wait and see though am meant to start tomorrow so I won't have a choice