Jul

12

What a Fun Weekend

July 12, 2004 |

Well we had an excellent weekend. My parents came down on Saturday (they live 3 hours away) and it’s always nice to see them. They were apparently worried about me and wanted to check up on me. Almost 34 years old and my parents still act like parents…lol…I guess that job never ends huh?

Saturday afternoon one of the guys that Jeff works with came over with his girlfriend to camp out in our back yard. Their driveway was being paved outside their apartment and they had no way in or out of the building for the whole weekend. This couple is in their mid 20’s and they are sweet and funny and just a lot of fun. They love our kids and play with them whenever they visit. That just makes them that much more special to us.

So we had some cocktails and a nice cookout and ended the night making s’mores. Jeff and the 2 oldest kids slept in a tent in the back yard and I took the 2 youngest into the house for a comfortable evening ;) Sunday morning I got up and made everyone a big breakfast and then it was off fishing for the rest of the day. What a life *sigh*. I wish every day could be like the weekend but then I guess we wouldn’t appreciate those days so much would we?

Today has been kinda tough not only with getting back to work but also with the little boy that is leaving my care in 3 weeks for a daycare closer to his home. He’s been particularly difficult to deal with for the last week and today I finally asked him what was going on and he broke down in my arms and said

“In. Fwee (3). Weeks. I. No. Go. Julie’s. Anymore.” Insert gut wrenching sob after each word :(

And he cried and cried and cried. He and I have been through a lot. His parents split up right before Thanksgiving last year and it has been tough. Our relationship has grown to the point where I have become his confidant when things get ugly between his parents. He tells me whatever he wants about what is going on and I just listen and hug him and I don’t tell anyone what he’s said. Unfortunately mom and dad will only use it against one another to further fuel the fire. Most of what he talks to me about is how they yell at each other all the time and call each other names and it makes him sad. Sometimes they yell at him too.

I can’t help but worry about him. What’s going to happen to this little boy when he leaves? He’ll be going to a daycare in his town where the provider knows his family well. Will he feel able to talk to her in confidence? What will happen if he doesn’t? The kid is a ticking time bomb as it is and the parents have never taken anything I’ve said about it seriously. They only blame each other and tell me they think he’s doing fine.

One thing I wish parents would realize is how attached some of us providers get to their children. We love them like our own and then *poof* one day they’re gone and we miss them so much. I want the 3 weeks he has left here to be as happy as can be but if he’s this upset and acting out how can I turn it around? I keep trying to talk to him about all of the new and exciting things he’ll be doing at his new daycare. But the hardest part for me is that of what I’ve seen of this provider and her home, I would not send my own kids there and that makes it tough. We’ll be putting together a scrap book for him and I told him he could visit whenever his mom said it was okay. I’m sure he’ll be okay – I just can’t help but worry. This poor little boy has been through too much already.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. weebie on July 13, 2004 10:39 am

    Hi Jules, so glad you had a fun weekend!

    I almost sobbed myself when I read that heart wrenching conversation you had with that little guy. Poor kid. His whole world is topsy turvy. No wonder he’s acting out. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things to make his transition easy on him. (hugs) to you both!

  2. Kristine on July 15, 2004 6:07 pm

    How fun to have your friends camping in your backyard. And I guess I never thought about how hard it is for day care providers to have to embrace & then say goodbye to the kids as they join and then leave. Sweet story, and what a lucky boy to have had you.

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