I hope this is the right place to post this.
I recently joined a gym that has a child watch program. So you can place your child in their care for 1.5 hours a day while you work out.
I'm trying to take advantage of this as much as possible. I really need to get in shape and I really could use the "alone" time, even if the alone time involves working out!
I have a DD who just turned 2.5 years old, and has never been in any daycare setting let alone been left with anyone else, except her dad, and a couple times my sister when she was visiting. She's very independent and outgoing and is at the point where she can go with my husband for a couple hours occasionally and be away from me, but not much more than that. I figured she'd do O.K. at the gym.
She's been there 5 times so far and she really dislikes me leaving her there. I didn't expect her to adjust immediately and I know it's normal. I go at different times and there's almost never the same teachers there, so she can't even learn to attach to one person there. I feel such immense guilt, but I know she's old enough to process it all and spend an hour alone without mommy. She is seriously protesting the whole process.
But here's the biggest problem in my opinion: the area is set up into two rooms, one for infants-3 years old and the other room for 3-5. But the problem is that the room that she's supposed to be in is SO baby-ish. It even has a sign in it that says "Welcome to the baby room." Now I don't think my child is a genius by any means but she is very skilled at creative play, she is VERY verbal (has been speaking in long full sentences for a long time now) and loves to do things like read books, do puzzles (she can put together a 60 piece puzzle almost by herself), crafts, and play with toys/games that involve little parts, etc... And the room she's in barely has any of that.
Now if she was very comfortable she's the kind of kid who could entertain herself with two sticks. But the fact is she's not at all comfortable and I feel that the other room, which has creative/pretend play props, lots of puzzles, books, crafts, etc would suit her SO much better and engage her to be happy sooner - not to mention that there'd be kids who could interact with her on her level there!
The one time I made a mention that maybe she'd like to paint in that room, they immediately asked her age and when I told them they said that she obviously needed to be 3 in that room.
I just don't know - should I make a fuss over this, and if so, how do I go about it? Or should I get let it go and hope that she eventually feels comfortable enough to entertain herself in the baby room? I feel so much guilt - I spent two and a half years with her barely leaving my side and while she is a brilliant well-adjusted child I don't want to rush her into this unhappily, especially when I could possibly make the arrangement better for her. On one hand, an average of 6 hours a week doesn't seem like much, but on the other hand, it seems like an eternity to me when I know she's spending every second in that room waiting for me to come back. I especially hate to think of her being "held back" when she could be doing the things she enjoys instead.
Any advice or encouragement is much appreciated!
I recently joined a gym that has a child watch program. So you can place your child in their care for 1.5 hours a day while you work out.
I'm trying to take advantage of this as much as possible. I really need to get in shape and I really could use the "alone" time, even if the alone time involves working out!
I have a DD who just turned 2.5 years old, and has never been in any daycare setting let alone been left with anyone else, except her dad, and a couple times my sister when she was visiting. She's very independent and outgoing and is at the point where she can go with my husband for a couple hours occasionally and be away from me, but not much more than that. I figured she'd do O.K. at the gym.
She's been there 5 times so far and she really dislikes me leaving her there. I didn't expect her to adjust immediately and I know it's normal. I go at different times and there's almost never the same teachers there, so she can't even learn to attach to one person there. I feel such immense guilt, but I know she's old enough to process it all and spend an hour alone without mommy. She is seriously protesting the whole process.
But here's the biggest problem in my opinion: the area is set up into two rooms, one for infants-3 years old and the other room for 3-5. But the problem is that the room that she's supposed to be in is SO baby-ish. It even has a sign in it that says "Welcome to the baby room." Now I don't think my child is a genius by any means but she is very skilled at creative play, she is VERY verbal (has been speaking in long full sentences for a long time now) and loves to do things like read books, do puzzles (she can put together a 60 piece puzzle almost by herself), crafts, and play with toys/games that involve little parts, etc... And the room she's in barely has any of that.
Now if she was very comfortable she's the kind of kid who could entertain herself with two sticks. But the fact is she's not at all comfortable and I feel that the other room, which has creative/pretend play props, lots of puzzles, books, crafts, etc would suit her SO much better and engage her to be happy sooner - not to mention that there'd be kids who could interact with her on her level there!
The one time I made a mention that maybe she'd like to paint in that room, they immediately asked her age and when I told them they said that she obviously needed to be 3 in that room.
I just don't know - should I make a fuss over this, and if so, how do I go about it? Or should I get let it go and hope that she eventually feels comfortable enough to entertain herself in the baby room? I feel so much guilt - I spent two and a half years with her barely leaving my side and while she is a brilliant well-adjusted child I don't want to rush her into this unhappily, especially when I could possibly make the arrangement better for her. On one hand, an average of 6 hours a week doesn't seem like much, but on the other hand, it seems like an eternity to me when I know she's spending every second in that room waiting for me to come back. I especially hate to think of her being "held back" when she could be doing the things she enjoys instead.
Any advice or encouragement is much appreciated!
: I know it sounds terrible, but this is not a big deal... If possible (like, if you haven't put her birthday on any paperwork or anything), just tell them she's 3! It's not worth stressing over 
.
When my oldest was still an only child I had to take him to the gym way back then and he went in the room that was appropriate for him maturity-wise. When he was in that in between age he seemed much too old for the baby room.
If she had just turned 2 then I'd say keep her in the younger room but she's closer to 3 years old now. They want your business and I assure you that they will work with you.
And her kid is nowhere near ready to be left alone in that place.
