Last Friday, Enzo had a breakthrough. I was already bracing myself for the crying to start en route to daycare. In the AM he told me he didn’t want to go. I told him we were going to the bakery to get a croissant. He said “ok mama.” But he knows the routine by now, I buy him a croissant on our way to day care. Usually, when I turn on the street where day care is located, Enzo starts crying. He says “no escuela no escuela.” But on Friday, he said “Escuela! Escuela! Escuela!” Chanting in delight, hand gestures and all. I was soooo happy!
We got to the front of the school, no crying… I rang the bell… No crying. I opened the door and went inside… No crying! I parked the stroller… And the crying began!!
He loves his day care. I know because sometimes at pickup I hide and watch him. I also know that because his teachers have taken pictures to show me what a blast he has…What he doesn’t love is when mama leaves daycare. “Mama no se vaya.” Mama don’t leave (ugh. My heart sinks.)
I know it gets better, and I know there will be a day when he doesn’t want to be picked up! And there will be a day when he stops wanting mama, and when he stops thinking I’m the best thing that roamed the earth. Until then, I’m going to try to enjoy the attention I get, and try to appreciate all the moments, even when he’s clinging on to me for dear life, or knocking on the bathroom door while I’m on the toilet, or hanging out with me in the bathroom (seriously who else would ever want to do that?!) I say I’m going to TRY because it’s really hard to appreciate the lack of privacy and the crying at drop off.
But as other parents have told me — it turns out they grow at the blink of an eye and I one day I will miss all these moments…I already see how fast he is growing! I was away for a week (more on that later!) and I came back and he looked so mature, his vocabulary had expanded and I swear he grew at least an inch… so YES they grow up SO FAST and I WILL MISS these moments… Most, I’ll never miss the lack of bathroom privacy or the sleepless nights or the tantrums for no reason… I mean, really who would?
