JackPot!

Today we went to the park to play with some friends from school. We are so lucky to be part of the totbabycollege community. Lucky not only because it is such a wonderful place, but also because we even 'got in.'

We 'live' in a small community with limited childcare options. When I was pregnant with Mackenzie, I heard that the community college was opening up a Child Development Center and that they would open up for infants the January after she was born. This seemed like a perfect prospect. She was born in August, maternity leave through November; We would have to figure something out for a couple of months, but the idea seemed doable. So, I put her on a 'waiting list.' The program prioritizes the wait list: 1. Students, 2. Faculty/Staff, 3. Community (that would be us). Never heard anything and we ended up finding a person who could babysit her out of their home. So, the 1:1 seemed like a great idea. About 6 months after I returned to work I got the call that there was an opening. Content with our current situation, I turned it down (very stupidly in retrospect, which makes me feel even luckier; Although I do seem to recall that the first offer was for a 3 day a week spot and we were only interested in 2 days.). A few days later the Director called back and said she had a Tuesday - Thursday spot. Still feeling loyal to our current babysitter, I again turned it down, but asked about being kept on the wait list for the toddler rooms and asked if I could see the center. We scheduled a tour and Mackenzie and I went for a visit. Love at first sight. We went in the infant room and what a peaceful environment. From the moment I stepped in the room, it was clear that the center did so much more than babysit, which is what I had heard often happens at daycares. Babies were crawling and rolling and moving freely; They were not being confined and pacified in bouncy seats and swings. As we moved through the different rooms I loved seeing how happy and engaged the kids were. They were PLAYING! Very.Happily.Playing. Content. Learning through play, which also fit with my ideals on what I would want in a Child Development Center: A philosophy that kids learn through play, not by pounding the ABC's into their brains. That's going to happen. And the social interaction. We actually live out of town, a rural area with very few kids. When I visited, I had the realization that this was Mackenzie's opportunity to get that peer social interaction we struggled to find ways to provide. So, I talked to Jeff (dad) and, although I had to sell him on the idea since we tend to be loyalists by nature, we made the switch. Three weeks later, she started.

I have to say it has been one of the best parenting decisions we made. Totgirl has thrived there. Her and several other kids have been together for 3 years and are developing friendships, as well as with new kids who joined later. Because siblings get first priority, Zachy was able to get a spot as well and he also seems to love going there and I know he will for many years to come. The staff who work there are brilliant. Not only are they highly educated, but, much more importantly, they are solid, energetic people who are clearly invested in providing the kids in their classrooms with an exceptional social and learning experience. Although the center is in it's infancy at 3 years old and is in a small town, they have visitors related to early childhood education from around the country since they have developed a model program. Can you say 'We hit the JACKPOT!'?

Totgirl's Toddler B  teacher, Miss Lisa, made her a lovely DVD with pictures and music that captured their year together. Getting a glimpse into that part of my child's life, the part that happens when she is away from me, was such a gift. I cried. In those pictures I saw my daughter live through a year of transition. Saw her grow up from a toddler into a little girl. I saw pictures of her the first weeks there, which was when her babybrother was born. I saw that she was okay and in a safe, supportive, loving environment those weeks, the weeks her life was changed forever (I like to think for the better, but at the time I know it was overwhelming for her, as of course it would be for any 2 year old.). And they nurtured her that year, through ups and downs as we all adjusted to being a family of 4. I am so grateful.

And Zachy is in the infant room. He is taken care of by the same primary caregiver who took care of Mackenzie. Ironically, she had left the center right before Mackenzie moved up to the Toddler A room and returned just after I had Zach. The infant teachers were totally excited to have Zachy coming their way. So welcoming, it felt like I was taking him to family. Their happiness for us was clear and honest. Turns out even though Miss Kim is Zachy's primary, he has a thing for Miss Karla and follows her all over. Cracks me up! I can totally relate since that is what he does with mommyme at home. I rarely pick up, but one day I did and when I opened the door Miss Karla was at the sink rinsing something and there was Zachy, right at her feet screaming for her to pick him up. He did, however, come right over to me when he realized I was there though...that's my boy!

So today we got to be with our friends from the totbabycollege. Totgirl loved seeing Miss Lisa, her old teacher from Toddler B and got to Thank her properly for her wonderful music gift. I got to tell Miss Lisa verbally how much we love it and share with Miss Lisa how Mackenzie shows it off to anyone who comes over and how we even got the Wiggleworms CD, which is where the music she used came from. I also got to get a picture of Miss Lisa with Mackenzie, since, of course, Miss Lisa is always the one taking the photos. Mackenzie was so happy to get the chance to reconnect some with Miss Lisa. Warms my heart just seeing them together and seeing their relationship. And Mackenzie also liked getting the chance to visit with Miss Anne, her preschool teacher. Zachy got to see Miss Kim and a few of his baby friends were there too....friends I hope I continue to see him with 2 years from now, like I get to see Mackenzie with hers. I got to see Mackenzie play with her friends Saige and Jordan and Emmerson and Andrew and Mathew and Teddy. A really nice time today, a reallyreallyreally nice time. Yep! We hit the JACKPOT!