The D Word

Daycare has been the elephant in the room all summer.  With only two weeks remaining before Jesse and I go back to work full time, we could no longer postpone the issue.  We had researched the topic and had a guaranteed spot at a daycare we visited in May, but we weren't especially happy.  We decided to visit another location yesterday and fell in love.  Here is why:

• The daycare is about 5 minutes from our house.
• They offer web cameras of constant surveillance that parents may login (with a password) to view their child's classroom at any time. 
• There is a 6:1 child-teacher ratio with a maximum of 12 students per class.
• A morning snack, hot lunch, and afternoon snack are provided daily.  Seriously, Jackson is going to eat better than we are!
• The toddler room was full of artwork created by the children.
• Children have pictures of their family on their cubby.
• The toddlers have their own playground as well as access to a full-size gym when the weather doesn't permit outdoor play.
• The tuition was just lowered, making it the least expensive daycare we could find (about $800 a month).
• There was a warm, nurturing environment.  The hallways were painted with playful characters.  The classroom was stimulating without being overwhelming.
• The teacher was very professional.  Her little class was so well-behaved and clean!

Here are our concerns:

• The toddlers only take one nap a day after lunch.  Jackson currently takes two naps a day and is quite grumpy with vigorous eye-rubbing without a morning nap.
• It is going to be quite difficult for Jesse or I to take off work in the middle of the day if we get a call that Jackson is sick.
• They don't allow cloth diapers.
• Jackson communicates frustration by biting and pulling hair.  That's not going to go over well with the other children or teacher.
• Jackson already has shown signs of separation anxiety when we drop him off at the church nursery crying.  I don't want him to feel betrayed or abandoned by his Mommy and Daddy.
• We don't want to leave him!