Thanks, David. I can always count on you to bring the reassurance.

Uh, really?

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vw, can you not use the gift cards in the Targets themselves?

One of them I can, but I have no Target close to me now. I think I still might save that one, though. There's only $20 left on it, but that could fulfill a TP emergency if I ever get really, really desperate.

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BASTIDS!

I know! I can't understand how some of this used Little Tikes stuff goes for MORE than brand new! *sigh* It's aggravating because I'd have to be online pretty much 24/7 to catch the stuff on craigslist before it sells. This stuff is like gold.

Good Ol' Hec.

Aimee, since she's older and more set in her ways, it may take her longer to get used to the new place. But as long as she's happy when you get there, she's probably fine. Has the daycare provider told you she settles in quickly once you're gone?

It took Owen a few weeks to not cry or cling to me when I started leaving him at Molly's twice a week. But now he doesn't cry at all. Even though he'll sometimes want to cling to me. He pretty much figures I'm coming back.

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But he settled down within minutes after I left and he was always playing contentedly when I collected him.

This is the important part, of any childcare assessment. If they're crying for hours and hours, something is wrong. Don't be afraid to quiz the daycare providers on this, and/or give them a time limit (e.g. "If Em cries for a half hour, I want a call, immediately."). Some kids have stronger separation anxiety than others. I cried at nursery school, ALWAYS, and hated it, but they were mean to me, and I know as an adult that's not just the separation anxiety memory. They once made me stay in the cloakroom all day, because I couldn't stop crying. That was the last straw, and my mother finally withdrew me.

On the other hand, I cried for months, going to kindergarten, and settled as soon as my mother (who was a sahm, then) left. When my father (who worked outside the home) took me, I didn't cry.

My kids went through spans of crying when I took them to pre-school, but they loved it, and then settled right down. The teacher said it's actually a little weird if they never go through that, at least for a little while, and she always wonders about it, when she has a kid who has never cried at least once or twice, about being left at school, by a parent.

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On the other hand, I cried for months, going to kindergarten, and settled as soon as my mother (who was a sahm, then) left. When my father (who worked outside the home) took me, I didn't cry.

This is why I started taking O to DC part time now. I want him to socialize and be ready for me to drop him off before we start preschool and kindergarten. Plus, it gives me some more time with Liv so she gets a little undivided attention.

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Has the daycare provider told you she settles in quickly once you're gone?

Yeah, she'll probably call me in about 20 minutes, after drop off finishes up, to let me know she's cheerfully eating her French freedom toast dipped in egg with syrup and playing just fine.

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Cash, when billytea is here (August 31), can you bring the Os down to go to the zoo with us?

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I wish I could go somewhere to play all day where people made me French toast and let me nap.

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Okay, if you come down when billytea is here, I'll make you french toast and let you nap!

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OH! We had billytea over last night! Em said "Poncy bugger" for him and yelled at the dog.

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