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Feelings on My Children's First Day of Preschool

I don't think a first-time mom will ever be fully prepared to drop their child off at school for the first time. Whether it's preschool or kindergarten. So many emotions. So many unknowns. When I started looking for a place to take Turner after he was born, I wasn't sure what to look for. Who would provide high quality care? Who could I trust?

Today I'm partnering with KinderCare to share my feelings I experienced the first day of drop off plus a few tips that helped me feel more confident in my decision.


Turner was 4 months old when I dropped him off at school for the first time. I was not only anxious about sending him to school, but I was also starting a brand new job the same day. Lots of emotions happening, but my excitement about my new role helped me not break down that first day. With Walt and Whitney I was pretty much ready to drop them off as soon as my maternity leave ended. Caring for newborn twins was no joke, and I was ready to get out of sweatpants and continue my career.

Here are a few tips I have when searching for schools and sending your kids off on the first day.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
When researching and walking through preschools I trusted my instinct. I observed closely how the teachers interacted with the children, how the classrooms were layed out, and did the staff look happy? I asked how often the kids were fed, what their daily routine would look like, and what the student to teacher ratio was. I asked a lot of questions, and if something didn't sit well I kept looking.
KinderCare believes in investing in the potential of their teachers, from resources to mentorship, which creates confident teachers ready to take on the most important job on earth! Their turnover rate is low which is very important to me.

LOCATION
It was important for Alex and I to best utilize our time so we made sure our kids' school was close to home and on the way to work. My advice is to keep the school closer to your home than your office, unless your commute is extremely long and you don't want to drop your child off extremely early and pick up late. I enjoy my quiet 45 minute commute to work. I clear my head, listen to podcasts, or jam out to my favorite music. KinderCare currently has over 1,400 centers in 38 states, with an unmatchable conviction to provide outstanding services, confidence, and comfort in families across the nation. Find your nearest location by searching here.

LET GO
It's hard for parents to let go of control and put their children's safety and development in someone else's hands, but as a working mom I didn't have the option. I was forced to let go but it has helped my family in many ways. When my child called his teacher mama in front of me for the first time it was a hard pill to swallow, but later I realized him calling her mama meant he truly cared for her. It was a term of endearment. His teacher treated him with love and care just like I would have done.

When I drop my children off the last thing I want to do is worry. I have enough stress and worry at work. I need to feel confident my children are being taken care of and developing. KinderCare takes on a very collaborative approach with parents and the needs of the child so it makes us as parents feel so much more comfortable with leaving our children with them.

THRIVE
Once you've decided on a school, I believe it's important to reevaluate after a certain amount of time. Is your child thriving? Are they developing? Do they say positive things about their teachers? Do you feel like the teachers and staff are providing safe and quality care?

I absolutely love KinderCare's mission statement; here's a small piece from it.

"Through it all, what we do for children and families remains constant. We are care-givers. We are educators. We impart a lifetime of learning. But we are so much more.

We are builders. Of confidence in children. Of unshakable self-worth. Of conviction they carry with them as they take their first steps....and every step towards taking on the world.

We rise, so they can shine

We are KinderCare."



Honestly, our local KinderCare is the most beautiful preschool I've ever stepped inside! They have so many unique qualities I haven't found in other schools. I love how they serve family style meals to teach kids how to share and be respectful, as well as encourage creativity through fun activities such as painting and theatre.

Turner will be starting kindergarten this August! I can't believe it's been over 5 years since he's been in school. I'm sure one day I'll look back on dropping my children off at school for the first time, and it will be a blurred and distant memory. Before I know it I will be dropping them off at college for their first day....ahh, I don't even want to think about it! What was your experience dropping off your child on the first day of school?

This post is sponsored by KinderCare but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands I love!

1 comment:

Rachel said...

My little guy is starting kindergarten in the fall as well. I had a minor freak-out the other day, thinking it was so close! It seems like things will really change once he starts on a real school "schedule" (no more long vacations in the middle of October!) , so I'm trying to savor every moment.

I also love my solo commute!