Feeling Guilty

[Melissa1983]

Hi.
I was wondering if anyone is in the same boat. My eldest daughter along with her sister goes to daycare fulltime, and every time i take them or pick they start crying, but when there father drops or picks up they are fine. I am feeling guilty leaving them there, as i have been home for the past 7 months with them and just returned to fulltime work. Is there anything i can do?

[xkwzit]

Hi
Have you called the centre once you get to work to see how long they were upset for? I only ask because my cousin has worked in daycare for years and tells me that most of the time they stop after only about 5 minutes. It is just their way of trying to get you to stay (and you can't blame then for trying). If they don't do it for your DH, it seems to show that
1. they aren't upset BECAUSE of daycare and
2. they are just trying to manipulate you (and good on them for trying to make the world the way they want it, but it just can't be)

If this is the case, once they see that the tears don't move you, it should stop. Here's hoping anyway :o

Cheers

[strawb]

I am organising my return to work and already im feeling guilt.

I spose its cause I really want to go back to the office to keep my brain occupied and stay in the loop (and continue a career) but I also want to spend as much time with oli as possible.

xkwzit, my mum works in child care and they have to write up extensive reports on the days activities...even taking pics of the kids during the day with a digital camera.
Firstly does your centre do this and if so see if you can look over them to ease your mind. Mum tells me that some mothers do this when the guilt sets in. Seeing their child enjoying themselves makes it somewhat easier.

It really is hard sometimes aye

[Chickadee]

Easiest solution is to make it DH's job to drop them off and pick them up, if this works logistically. My DD also tends to winge and cry more if I drop her off than if DH does. Normally she's very good and barely blinks when I say good bye but there are occassional bad weeks where she gets upset and by the 3rd day I make DH do it.

As others have said here, normally they don't cry for very long. I've noticed that when DD's carer has a game or activity ready to go as soon as she arrives DD gets so involved that there are few tears.

I get called at work if Chloe won't settle down and keeps crying, so I'm reassured every day that the phone doesn't ring that she is fine.

Good luck with it. Try not to feel guilty. The day will come (like today for us) when they won't want to leave daycare!

[Melissa1983]

Hi
I ring the centre about 5 minutes after i leave them and they are fine, don't even cry for 2 minutes. DH does normally drop and pick them up but when he has duty he stays at base so i have to do it. Lets see how we go today.