A belated post about Eddies' first day at 2 year old kindergarten. I was lucky enough to get Eddie into the Malcolm St Hawthorne Limited Hours Care Centre. This is a very small centre with only one class of 21 kids, of which only 9 are 'daycare' age as opposed to kindergarten age (like William). There are two carers for these 9 children - which is an awesome ratio. It runs from 9am to 2pm four days per week and each child can only be there for a maximum of 2 days. It is also only $43 per day before subsidies, if applicable.
It is a lovely centre and the women are lovely - very caring and have been there for a long time. It is very hard to get a place and the waiting lists are over a year long. But Eddie is now there on a Thursday! Which coincides with W's two days each week at his kindy, so on Thursdays - I ONLY HAVE ONE CHILD.
He has been twice now, and both times he cried (hysterically the second time - he knew what was coming), but he made the whole day and apparently ate his food and slept well.
I did have a twang of bad feelings this last THursday - he was very upset. But it is only 5 hours a week - he will survive. I would like a 2nd day so he can get the rhythm a bit more quickly, but I am lucky to have just one day!
He loved the playdough and dinosaurs that were setup. Also the kitchen and home corner (he discovered tongs and was mastering them when I left). Apparently he also like the worm farm and watching the worms.
So Thursdays now (if only for five hours) are peaceful. One baby. I do pilates after I drop E, our mother's helper, also E, looks after S for this hour of pilates. Then, last week, we had lunch out for D's birthday and then it was really time to pick up E again.
But this week, I am determined to have a 'me' day and watch back to back episodes of Downton Abbey (I started this on the weekend and am enjoying it - will put a hold on my reading until I have watched all three series I think!) and drink lots of cups of hot tea and just start endlessly at my gorgeous little S!
The three boys on their way to school/kindy!
What a big grown up family I have now!
The backpacks! E is using T's old day care backpack, as I got the place at Malcolm St so quickly that I didn't have time to buy him his own new one. I also had to make a rush order for nametags for clothes and lunchbox etc. They arrived the Wednesday before his first Thursday, phew.
(Oh, and did I mention that now on Thursdays I ONLY HAVE ONE CHILD?)
Just in case, on Thursdays, I ONLY HAVE ONE CHILD.
(Not excited. At. All.)
