Off to school and home again
Friday, August 17, 2012 This past week was a big one for Megan, Bubby, and Mac.
First off, Megan and Bubby headed off to school for the new school year. I have no photos of Megan's first day of class—adult children are goofy that way, not sharing first-day photos with their mothers. I do, though, have pictures of Bubby's first day of Pre-K and with his new teacher, stolen borrowed from Megan's Facebook page:
The smile's a pretty darn good sign things are off to a good start.
That's the "off to school" portion of this post.
The "home again" part? Well, that belongs to Mac. Mac who really did not like going to daycare. Mac who, apparently for most of his time at daycare, looked much like he did when he'd had enough of riding in his carseat on their recent California visit:
And much like he looks when he's just plain had enough of anything and everything:
During his first week at daycare, Mac didn't act happy and Mac didn't look happy. He had given daycare a try, but he'd had enough. And he had no qualms about letting one and all know things just weren't working for him.
Megan searched high and low for a solution to Mac's daily unhappiness. She checked out other childcare centers, she interviewed several home-based care providers. None felt right.
Then she considered nannies. A nanny for Mac did feel right. Especially when the nanny would be Aunt Katie—Preston's aunt and Mac and Bubby's great aunt. A great aunt not only by virtue of her place on the family tree, but great because she does awesome stuff like this:
That's Bubby flying high on the trampoline, thanks to a boost from Aunt Katie.
So Mac is back home again instead of at a daycare center. And happy. With Aunt Katie playing the role of nanny.
Aunt Katie's first day on the job, Mac didn't cry when Daddy left for work. He didn't cry when Mommy left for work, either. He did cry, though, when Aunt Katie left to go home at the end of the day.
That's a good sign, Megan says. A very good sign.
School bells have officially rung. After a wee bit of tweaking and making the best of the challenges, so far, so good—for the back-to-working-mommy Megan, the Pre-K Bubby, and especially for the happily home again Mac.
Today's question:
How smoothly has the summer-to-school-time transition gone for you and yours?
Reader Comments (12)
woohoo for Aunt Katie! Sounds like Baby Mac will be enjoying heaps of daily love from everyone in his life. It doesn't get much better than that.
School hasn't started here yet. However, my Granddaughter is very excited about kindergarten, and I was treated to a surprise runway fashion show with a gorgeous little model showing off her new school clothes.
I'm truly thrilled for my Granddaughter as she looks forward to this next phase, but every time I think about her moving up to 'big school' kindergarten I want to burst into tears. Is this normal? Maybe menopause or a Grandma thing?
My daughter and I have already planned 'blubbering cry time' together next Wednesday. Now I have to quit writing about it, or I'm going to start early.
It seems a ling way off now but when it happens, I'm sure time will have flown. And I will be the blubbering mess. Milo will probably comfort me.
Amara doesn't start school until next Wednesday but she is ready and really anxious! Teachers and class assignments are posted today at 5 PM! In preparation for school -- she cut her hair all of yesterday! Grandma is still in shock and has still not done her own -- but Amara's looks awesome!! There will be pictures!
Any great-grandson of mine will always let his likes and dislikes known, politically correct or NOT!
Glad problem got solved and, thank God for Aunt Katie.
Love those pics, especially the one of Baby Mac in his car seat.....he's really flexible!
My granddaughter started 5th grade yesterday. I took her to meet her teacher the day before and she was very excited to go back to school. My new daughter-in-law is a second grade school teacher and she went back to school on Wednesday...not sure how excited she was to go back after a crazy summer filled with a wedding and honeymoon-LOL.
Those pictures are adorable!
So pleased that it all worked out in the end for Baby Mac. He certainly didn't look a happy little boy.
Have had absolutely no problems with Lucy, she is always very eager to get back to school and learn. Does make life so much easier.
Wow, Bubby is looking really grown-up. Love the Aunt Katie solution. And our grandson starts full-day kindergarten right after Labor Day. His parents won't notice any difference, but his Grandma is going to miss him like crazy.
It's back to school time again! How did the summer go by so fast - looks like Mac's will be extended though!
We haven't started yet, but I can tell you that day care just doesn't work for some! When I went back to school, my son hated every day care we tried. We finally did something similar to Megan's solution -- traded child care with my friend who was also going to college.
I'm going to do a long-term substitute teaching gig in a month or so -- so if I don't reappear, send a search party with wine!
Having a family member who can care for a child at home has always struck me as the best childcare option. Sounds like your daughter and grandson are really blessed. Love the phtots!
Drew starts school in a couple of weeks and his school has a "meet and greet" the day before school starts so the kids can meet their new teacher. The school also has a "Yahoo and Boohoo" coffee during the morning of the first day of school! My grandson has informed me that I am not allowed to "boohoo". Where did the summer go?!