Daddy Day Care

In many cases, it takes a while to fully understand something. Well, that is true with the daycare situation. Being new at this, Ryan and I really weren't sure how to choose a good daycare for our son. We shopped around and asked a few questions (not really knowing what to ask). I fell in love with some and Ryan fell in love with others. We agreed that we could not afford the really really nice ones (especially right off the bat). Not having much time to choose, we settled for the one that Korbin is in now (settled being the key word). Unfortunately, the saying "you get what you pay for" is undoubtedly true.

I hate his daycare.

Several times a week I am blown away by situations I witness in his classroom. I am only in the room for a few short minutes, which is apparently long enough to realize that I hate leaving him in that room day in and day out. I am realizing that we are only paying for someone to monitor the kids, get the mats out for nap and put the food out when it's time to eat. The "teachers" (not in any way certified) only read one book per day (if that), provide a few small activities (like coloring, finger painting, etc), change diapers, and take them outside 2 times a day. I really don't feel that he is learning anything (that we'd want him to learn). He IS learning how to REFUSE something. He says "no" and shakes his head at a lot of questions, Spends more time in "time out", whines, plays with his food, hates cleaning up after meals (wiping his face, etc... which they do NOT do at the daycare). Basically, he is becoming a wild child! He is in a room with 10 other 2 year olds and 1 teacher all day!

Everyday I want to drive 2 more blocks down the road to one of the nicer facilities. I will gladly pay the extra $200 a month to have a structured curriculum. A place that takes the time to wash kids hands, sing songs and read books. A place that has a teacher that teaches kids to count and say their ABC's!

My work has a Learning Center downstairs. There are 2 teachers and 7 kids (ages 8 months to 4 years), 3 of which are part-timers. Korbin is #1 on the waiting list. They keep saying that they will make room (expanding the center to add another room) in December! The facility is clean. They have a schedule they follow. They have a separate (quiet and dark) room for naps. I can go downstairs and have lunch with Korbin! The other kids are well mannered and friendly... good influences...

December... can I wait that long?! Just a few more weeks... [sigh] ... feels like forever!
I think about it every day. I feel bad about leaving him at that crappy daycare. He shouldn't be there...

I knew things would change. We expected it and actually looked forward to exposing Korbin to a new "group" environment. Of course, we hoped he would thrive in a good way. We hoped he would learn to share, learn to communicate better and... well... learn! We are disappointed (not in Korbin, in the daycare).