September is fast approaching and that means not only a new job for myself, but also the beginning of daycare for Abby. As an ECE I have seen the difficulty some parents face in not only choosing a daycare for their child, but in letting go and allowing their little one to be away from them. Cutting that invisible umbilical cord can be very difficult, both physically and mentally for many parents. This idea never used to scare me. I always assumed that I would be excited for Abby to start her new journey.  It’s not to say that now I am not excited, it’s just that excitement now comes with a side of fear, apprehension and sadness…my baby is growing up. 

I now can see myself as one of those parents who puts on a brave face at the daycare, then quietly cries in the car on the way to work.  I find myself even missing Abby when she is upstairs napping, almost as though I know our days with nothing to do but spend time together are limited and I should enjoy them now while I can.  It is not just the loneliness of saying goodbye to my baby for the first time and leaving her with strangers that has me worried, it is also the fact that I myself am beginning a new journey. 

Unfortunately I was not able to return to my previous school.  It is an hours drive each way and that is just too much to do with Abby everyday.  So I instead needed to find something closer to home.  I was fortunate enough to get a job quite quickly at a beautiful school just up to road from where we are located.  I will be working in a bilingual classroom (better brush up on my French!) starting in September.  The school also offers a toddler program beginning at 18 months of age and I was fortunate enough to secure her a place.  That means that she will be in daycare for only four months, then she will come to work everyday with me.  I couldn’t be luckier or happier for that opportunity.  Not only will she be receiving a Montessori education but it will be right down stairs from where I will be working.

Although this time will be difficult and take some adjustments on both of our parts it is an exciting new journey for us and I am glad that we will be sharing most of it together.