Friday, last week was LF’s last day in the infant room!!! I know, go get your tissues, blot your eyes, clear the lump from your throat and put your heart back in your chest. Oh, wait…was that just me that got all choked up about this? Oh, okay, sorry! So anyway, since Friday was her last day in the infant room, that can only mean one thing…
She’s in toddlerville now!!! I know, it’s crazy, trust me, I’ve thought about it all weekend long!!! And now you’ll think about it (all week) for about point 2 seconds!!!
About a month ago I ran into the director of the daycare and she… wait, back up…
About 2 & ½ months ago the director mentioned to LFD that she would move LF up to toddlerville beginning July 1st. (Please note: daycare policy is Infant room from newborn to 18 months ~ LF is not 18 months (officially) until July 14th.) I was fine with the July 1st deadline. Sure it’s more money for an infant but I liked the staffer in the infant room (not that I don’t like the toddler room staffer, I do, very much). I also like the infant room because it was that much longer in a more quiet less-toddler-monster environment. But if I’m being honest, LF has spent the better part of her days in the toddler room anyway except for meal times and nap times anyway, so what’s the difference where she is at this point anyway.
She also likes to sit on the infants (I’m not kidding)!!!
So, now about a month ago I ran into the director of the daycare and she told me she would be moving LF to the toddlerville on June 1st instead of July 1st. She said she believed LF was well adjusted and ready for toddlerville. I agreed. And the minute I left my first thought was yes, LF is ready, I have no problem with that, but the director is just being sneaky about this. (continuing my thought) She knows that LF is ready, but I just know she ulterior motives. I just know that she’s got a newborn waiting in the wings to start daycare and she’s “making room”. I knew the minute she told me she would make the move sooner. Because really? It’s all about the almighty dollar, isn’t it? I have absolutely no problem with her moving LF up early, in fact I’m glad (I hated taking my shoes off for the past year and 2 months so that I could go in the infant room to drop LF and her stuff off). But, here’s my thing…I’m an easy going parent. I’ve never ruffled feathers there, I’ve never given them a reason to think I am anything but understanding. The fact that she didn’t just come out and say, “I would like to move LF up to toddlerville because a. I think she’s ready and b. we have a new infant coming in”, is really bothering me. That is all she had to do to gain my respect. I know it’s not a big deal and I’m probably making it out to be more of big deal than I should, but it’s annoying. Just talk to me like an adult and don’t try to be sneaky.
So this morning, my suspicion was confirmed. Sure enough, I walked in to drop LF off, got her settled in, turned to leave and when I was walking out the front door a mommy was walking in carrying her 6-week old little boy. See? I knew I was right!!!
Anyway, aside from daycare politics, I am all-in-all happy about the move. I think LF is independent enough to stand her ground in toddlerville. She can communicate with the other kids and the staff to tell them what she wants/likes/dislikes/etc. I just have to bring in a potty thing for her so that now they can help me get her trained. If you’ll remember we’ve been and continue to work on that. She tells us when she has to go sometimes. Now that I have daycare helping me this should help!!! Also, LFD witnessed something he was very proud of (and I have mixed feelings about) last week. They play a game every day when he picks her up. He would turn the corner into the toddler room and she would run and hide between the cribs. Following right after one of the other little boys would run and hide with her. This particular day LF did not like this very much so she stuck out her hand to his chest and told the little boy to “go away”!!! On one hand I’m all…”GO LF!!!” and in her defense, there are a couple of kids who are especially clingy to LF and won’t leave her alone and she should have her space. But I also think we need to teach her a polite way to handle the situation…but how do you reason with a 16-1/2 month old about how to be polite?!?!? That’s like an oxymoron!!! And another part of me says…HELLZ YEAH…you tell him LF!!! Because eventually we will be making her life miserable beating off the boys, so it’s okay that she starts young…then maybe we won’t have to…she’ll be able to do it all by herself!!!
I am so proud of you LF!!! Go get ‘em tiger!!!
