Search for Child-care
Hello Ewan,
You just past your 15 month birthday a few days ago. After months of searching, you were finally accepted into the YMCA daycare. And maybe you don't think it is a give deal, but it is. Let me explain.
You just past your 15 month birthday a few days ago. After months of searching, you were finally accepted into the YMCA daycare. And maybe you don't think it is a give deal, but it is. Let me explain.
Child care is a national crisis in Canada (at least outside of Quebec). It is expensive (min. $1500/ month), quality of care varies significantly and there's almost always a wait list (sometimes as long as a year). Mom visited some daycare which is mediocre in terms of quality of care but charges an arm and a leg. Mom stumbled upon YMCA when she was having lunch I the same strip mall. She decided to wander in to take a look. She met Annabella, the Director of the center, who was warm and friendly and mom instantly felt in love with this place. But we were still on the waiting list because there was no opening.
Mom called more than a dozen and interviewed close to half dozen institutional and home daycare. In fact, last week, we said yes to a nice lady named Sonia who runs a home daycare. She was the only one that was somewhat acceptable and was available. This has been a source of stress and frustration for a long time. It's not joke. We (mostly mom :)) lost sleep over this concern. Not your fault at all, ofcourse.
When YMCA daycare called and told us we were in, we were absolutely thrilled. We think you are absolutely going to love it there.
Once the paperwork is all done, we plan to do a few play-dates with them to smoothed the transition. Then you officially start there Feb. 20 (after the Family Day weekend) while Mom returns to work in mid March. Our routine will change. The plan is for me to drop you off in the morning, than do my 40 minutes to Bolton. Then mom will pick you up in the evening.
Separation is funny thing. Up to now, mom has been with you every single day of your budding life. So, it will weird on your first day of daycare when you are separated for the whole day. We also look forward for you to meet and play with other adults and kids. We think it is ultra important for your development. Speaking of your development, one thing I am excited to see you develop is the capacity for compassion. Particularly because I only learn this at a late stage in life. I don't think my parents were good at teaching me how to be compassionate to others and how important it is. This has to do with real sharing. Which is the type of sharing without expecting something in return. I learn alot from my friends and your mom and her side of the family.
What it's like to have you around:
I just want to let you, on the record, how wonderful it is to have you around. I woke up at 6:30am this morning (still tired but couldn't sleep). After a cup of coffee, I heard you playing in your crib. Then, after about 20 minutes, you were calling to get picked-up. I got you your bottle and went into your room. When I cracked open the door, you called out "da-da" and "nai nai" (milk). Then, other words flew out of your mouth like "bag bag" (pointing at your sleepbag) and "boo-ah" (sound cars make) and "dirt-dirt" (birds on the wall). I picked you up and gave you your milk while we read stories. Whenever I am with you, everything else becomes trivial. There are actually alot of things on my mind (e.g. a million things from work, stuff to do with our new home).
Jan. 29:
Today was yet snowy day in Canada. It's actually very pretty outside, but it just adds shoveling time to an already hectic schedule. After a busy day of work, I braze for the long drive home. It has been snowing wet snow since about 1pm and it was still snowing when I left work. It took about 50 minutes to get home. Listening to podcast makes the drive alot more bearable. The moment I got home (and this is typical), you leap up from reading your books in the living room play area. You were super excited. Then you crack a huge smile as you yell da-da. My heart melts.
I came to play with you for a bit and give you hugs and kisses before even getting out of my work clothes. I really shouldn't get too cold as you have a mild flu. And CDC
announced that flu season is especially bad this year. Then I brought you upstairs so mom can focus on cooking and I can wash my face and change into home clothes. Down we went together for dinner but not before washing up for dinner.
You were a bit fussy at dinner. You still don't have much of an appetite. But still you finished about half your rice and some udon. After dinner, mom always take care of dishes so I can spend time with you. Your favorite activity is visiting the not-yet-finished basement. Tonight, you slam the tiny doors to the electrical cabinets, learn that the water heater is just a big water-pot (bobo) (which you already know from observing it in the kitchen) and knock on the steel post to make a sound. You are actually quite observant and association. You don't get it right all the time, but you get it I'd say 90% of the time. Impressive for a 15 months.
It's getting late, let me jump right to bed-time routine. You were adorable. After saying goodnight to your toys, we headed to the lazy-boy in your bedroom (still pink from the last owner). I gave you some milk then we read our three usual stories (Ba, night-night and tring tring tring). You have favorite pages from each of the three stories and are always impatient to get to these pages (Kensington Market and Inuit are your two current favorites - but these do change). But my absolute more favorite part was when you picked up a towel and started wiping me down. You were doing so with such joy and satisfaction. As if you thought, let me pamper you, dad. That was really special. And you played peekaboo a few times before you rub your eyes which is sign for being tired. So, i sang you twinkle twinkle and put you down in your crib. You cried for about 20 minutes before falling asleep. After putting you down, mom continued to do chores (laundry, taking out the garbage) while I cleaned the driveway. At around 9:30, I showered and when I came down, mom was cleaning your going-out high-chair. I washed some bottles because mom wasn't feeling great (sore throat, body ache). We were exhausted by 10:15 so I went upstairs and mom went to relax on the couch (so she doesn't infect me).
Once the paperwork is all done, we plan to do a few play-dates with them to smoothed the transition. Then you officially start there Feb. 20 (after the Family Day weekend) while Mom returns to work in mid March. Our routine will change. The plan is for me to drop you off in the morning, than do my 40 minutes to Bolton. Then mom will pick you up in the evening.
Separation is funny thing. Up to now, mom has been with you every single day of your budding life. So, it will weird on your first day of daycare when you are separated for the whole day. We also look forward for you to meet and play with other adults and kids. We think it is ultra important for your development. Speaking of your development, one thing I am excited to see you develop is the capacity for compassion. Particularly because I only learn this at a late stage in life. I don't think my parents were good at teaching me how to be compassionate to others and how important it is. This has to do with real sharing. Which is the type of sharing without expecting something in return. I learn alot from my friends and your mom and her side of the family.
What it's like to have you around:
I just want to let you, on the record, how wonderful it is to have you around. I woke up at 6:30am this morning (still tired but couldn't sleep). After a cup of coffee, I heard you playing in your crib. Then, after about 20 minutes, you were calling to get picked-up. I got you your bottle and went into your room. When I cracked open the door, you called out "da-da" and "nai nai" (milk). Then, other words flew out of your mouth like "bag bag" (pointing at your sleepbag) and "boo-ah" (sound cars make) and "dirt-dirt" (birds on the wall). I picked you up and gave you your milk while we read stories. Whenever I am with you, everything else becomes trivial. There are actually alot of things on my mind (e.g. a million things from work, stuff to do with our new home).
Jan. 29:
Today was yet snowy day in Canada. It's actually very pretty outside, but it just adds shoveling time to an already hectic schedule. After a busy day of work, I braze for the long drive home. It has been snowing wet snow since about 1pm and it was still snowing when I left work. It took about 50 minutes to get home. Listening to podcast makes the drive alot more bearable. The moment I got home (and this is typical), you leap up from reading your books in the living room play area. You were super excited. Then you crack a huge smile as you yell da-da. My heart melts.
I came to play with you for a bit and give you hugs and kisses before even getting out of my work clothes. I really shouldn't get too cold as you have a mild flu. And CDC
announced that flu season is especially bad this year. Then I brought you upstairs so mom can focus on cooking and I can wash my face and change into home clothes. Down we went together for dinner but not before washing up for dinner.
You were a bit fussy at dinner. You still don't have much of an appetite. But still you finished about half your rice and some udon. After dinner, mom always take care of dishes so I can spend time with you. Your favorite activity is visiting the not-yet-finished basement. Tonight, you slam the tiny doors to the electrical cabinets, learn that the water heater is just a big water-pot (bobo) (which you already know from observing it in the kitchen) and knock on the steel post to make a sound. You are actually quite observant and association. You don't get it right all the time, but you get it I'd say 90% of the time. Impressive for a 15 months.
It's getting late, let me jump right to bed-time routine. You were adorable. After saying goodnight to your toys, we headed to the lazy-boy in your bedroom (still pink from the last owner). I gave you some milk then we read our three usual stories (Ba, night-night and tring tring tring). You have favorite pages from each of the three stories and are always impatient to get to these pages (Kensington Market and Inuit are your two current favorites - but these do change). But my absolute more favorite part was when you picked up a towel and started wiping me down. You were doing so with such joy and satisfaction. As if you thought, let me pamper you, dad. That was really special. And you played peekaboo a few times before you rub your eyes which is sign for being tired. So, i sang you twinkle twinkle and put you down in your crib. You cried for about 20 minutes before falling asleep. After putting you down, mom continued to do chores (laundry, taking out the garbage) while I cleaned the driveway. At around 9:30, I showered and when I came down, mom was cleaning your going-out high-chair. I washed some bottles because mom wasn't feeling great (sore throat, body ache). We were exhausted by 10:15 so I went upstairs and mom went to relax on the couch (so she doesn't infect me).
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