I phoned every daycare in Comox and Courtenay listed in the Canpages. Of the ones that actually answered the phone, about half didn't take children younger than 30 months, and only one had a space. I made an appointment for Tuesday morning and crossed my fingers that the place wasn't a dump. It is in Comox which is technically the town next door, but even after hitting the Starbucks drive thru it only took me ten minutes to get there.
The place was nice, a converted house I think. There was a lot of outside space to play. Inside the kids were segregated into under 30 months and over 30 months. There must be some regulations about age and number of caregivers in BC or something. I brought Abby in there and she took off, so happy to play with some other kids and interested in all the new toys everywhere. I managed to corral her into the toddler / baby room where she will be spending her days. We were about 20 minutes early to meet the director, or manager or owner or boss or whatever. The lady that runs the place. So I took the opportunity to talk to a couple of moms that were dropping off their kids and get a tour by one of the ladies that worked there. They were all really nice, the moms all had positive things to say and seemed quite friendly with the staff.
The staff were really warm and approachable. One of the ladies was sitting on the floor with a book covered in toddlers. They seemed affectionate and caring, and patient. The boss lady arrived and we sat down in the office which was a messy desk, a couch and a bunch of child paraphenalia like toys, and cars-eats and stuff. I actually appreciated that there seemed to more time spent on the kids area than the office - priorities. She told me she started a daycare in her home 14 years ago when her first child was born because she could not find care for a child his age. After about a year and a half she moved the business out of her house and into larger premises. They are one of the only daycares around that take little babies. She has since had several more kids I like the idea of leaving Abby with another mom.
The cost is definitely on the more reasonable end, but I have to send her with lunch and snacks everyday and she would have her own cubby that I have to keep stocked with diapers and wipes etc. So that might explain the low cost. They help with potty training, they have a discipline philosophy that is very much in line with my own, so I think this will be a good place.
An unfortunate reality of almost all daycare in the limited hours. They are only open from 7:30 to 5:30. So I will be applying at every bank in the Comox Valley. If I have to work Saturdays I will have to find somewhere else for her to go which will increase the cost. There is not going to be a perfect situation here, but I will just have to work things out the best way I can.
I find comfort in the thought that a month or so from now, all the pieces should be in place. Abby will be familiar with the staff there and have made friends with the kids. She will have consistency in her life even if I am not there.
A new phase of our life is starting. For the last 20 months or so her and I have been together almost all the time, I'd say a good 95% of the time. I have not been away from her for more than a handful of nights, and just a few hours at a time other than that. Soon she will have a daily life that belongs to her and does not include me, and I will have the same. It is not a bad thing, but it tells me that this time together is over and we will never have it back. I told the daycare I would like to start her on Monday so I could have the next week or so to really make the time count and get emotionally ready for this next phase.
I feel good about the time. I think I have given her a good start. We have had a lot of fun and I send her off on her own confident, curious, secure, independent, inquisitive, and joyful. I can pat myself on the back and feel like I have done pretty well so far with this mom thing. I will always be grateful to Cam for carrying the financial burden this far so Abby and I could have this extended time together. I know at times it has been a heavy burden for him to carry.
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