Week 2 of Parents Day Out

Let's just say that I may have been a hormonal mess with my post about Greyson's first day at Parent's Day Out. But I just couldn't get the idea that I had some how messed him up by trying to keep him safe for so long. Oh well.

So this week was much better! Yes, he still cries when I drop him off, but there are other kids crying at that point too so I can see that it is normal. His teacher said that he stopped crying about 1 min after I left the room, "It's a show for you." were her exact words. Well I wish he would stop putting on a show, but it is nice to know that he isn't crying the whole 4.5 hours.

He's been doing a great job eating his lunch and since they only use open cups in the classroom his cup skills are getting better all the time. I see a day in the not to distant future when we can get rid of the sippy cups!

The downside to PDO is the runny nose! He came home with it on day 2 and we are yet to kick it. Greyson is now a normal toddler with a perpetual runny nose. It is gross! Oh well, just part of it I guess. It has prompted him to finally say "Nose"! We it sounds more like "No, No, No" and at first that is what I thought he was saying before I figured out that is what he says when he wants me to wipe his nose. I'm relived that he still hasn't figured out "NO!"

I didn't see it coming

Prematurity Awareness Month ends today. 2 years ago today I had no idea my son would be born the next day. That we would soon be entering the of prematurity and all that goes with it. And a lot goes with it. Worry, sacrifice, tears, sleep deprivation - all the things that come with a full-term baby, but heightened. Over the past 2 years things have popped up that remind me that Greyson had such a rough start, but lately there hasn't been too many. He's been healthy, happy and now he's finally talking I thought we we over the repercussions of prematurity. I thought "He's totally caught up!" and for the most part he is. I think that is why today's experience surprised me so much.

Today at 1 day shy of 2 years old Greyson started Parents Day Out. He will go twice a week for 4 to 5 hours (depending on the day). This is the first time he's been in a setting with other kids. He's only gone to the church nursery twice. When we get together with other kids it is usually at our house or there house with only 1 or 2 other kids. This was 6 other kids. Greyson didn't know what to do.

Aside from the freaking out and crying when we dropped him off (which we expected) the teacher said that he didn't interact with the other kids. That he played by himself, and was happy to do so, but that he didn't like group actives or playing with others. He'd just move away and do something else.

This lack of socialization is totally a side-effect of his prematurity that I didn't see coming. After keeping him in "lock-down" the first year - quitting my job to do so, and then only playing with a few other kids last year, Greyson doesn't have the social skills that you would expect a 2 year old to have. He is GREAT with adults. He's even fine with one or two kids, but he has no idea how to handle a large group of kids.

I know that PDO will be great for him, that he will learn those social skills (and probably get sick in the process) but we waited until he was 2 years old so I feel comfortable. He's healthier now, so for us the increase in socialization is worth the risk of getting sick. I year ago I don't think I would have been ready.

2 years later he's still a preemie. No matter how strong, healthy and wonderful he is - it's a just a truth. Once a preemie, always a preemie. Or maybe it's just once a preemie mom, always a preemie mom!

School Lunch #1

I just packed Greyson's first-ever "school lunch". He starts Parent's Day Out tomorrow. I'm a little nervous, but super excited to start packing him a lunch twice a week!

Here is his first lunch! (I'll let you know if he actually eats it.)

• Dark Green Container: Pasta Shells and Chicken Breast Bites.
• Lime Green Container: Granola Bite
• Purple Container: Triscuit Thins
• Light Blue Container: Mandarin Oranges

I'm also sending a container of milk so he has some dairy in his lunch.

ACK! Greyson starts PDO in 3 days!

I'm not ready!! I know that in the grand scheme of things this isn't a really big deal. But it is to me. I've never left Greyson with anyone else but family or friends and the occasional babysitter who came to our house.
Starting Tuesday I have to pack him a lunch, drop him off with strangers and let him grow-up a little bit more.
I know it's a good thing, it will be great for him, but where did my baby go?! He grew up so fast!