Chelsea's first day at Y-tots
Chelsea's first day at Y-tots
On Wednesday September 6, 2000 was Chelsea's first day of Y-tots(this is like a play group). She is enrolled in the afternoon session for 2 days a week/2 hours each day.
I had alot of emotions today. I was filled with happiness, sadness, excitement, and lonliness. I thought to myself-my little girl is growing up, just yesterday she was born.
I knew that I couldn't drop her off myself, so I asked my mom to come with us. I dreaded driving from my mom's to the YMCA-which is about 15 minutes away. I was trying to think "happy" thoughts, which wasn't working too well-lol.
When we pulled up I was choking away the tears. Chelsea was like this little bird, who discovered she had wings, and wanted to fly. She looked so grown up in her outfit, and sesame street backpack.
When her teacher-Miss Linda came to get the kids, she told us to just kiss them goodbye, reassure them that we would be back, and leave. As I kissed her goodbye, I started to cry. This was the first that myself and my mother ever left together, or that she was left with a "stranger". I was thinking "am I doing a good thing?" I knew in my heart that this is the best thing for her, since she is an only child, she needs to be around kids her own age, needs to develop social skills. Chelsea cried more for my mom than what she did for me. This made me feel even worse! Now I realize what my mom meant by saying "this hurts me more than it does you".
My mom was upset also, she didn't want to leave Chelsea while she was crying. Those 2 hours that my mom, and I spent together were so long. All we both could think of was how is Chelsea doing, is she ok.
When we went pick her up, we watched as the kids came in from outside. There was this little boy that was crying because he saw his mom, and wanted to go with her. Chelsea went over beside him, started talking to him, and they walked in together. It was at that point that I realized that I did the right thing!
The
next 2 weeks were horrible, Chelsea didn't want to go to school, but I
kept making her go. It upset myself so much that I talked to her
pediatrician, and the teacher. They both told me to give it 4-6 weeks
for the adjustment period. So by the fourth week of school, Chelsea
wanted to go and play with the kids.
Now
she asks me everyday "am I going to school, I want to play with the kids,
and see Miss Linda".
