Hallelujah! After 6 months of tears, tantrums, and despair Leo has finally made his transition into nursery. Whew...it was a task but as Little Leo would say, "I did it!" I finally realized there was not going to be any easy way about it. We traveled so much this summer that every time we came home we would have to start all over from scratch. I finally decided to cancel some weekend trips and make a concerted effort to be there every weekend until we finally made some headway. I also subscribed to the philosophy of tough love. I walked him in, got down onto his level, I calmly explained that Mommy was going to go, but that I would be back for him. Then I would just turn and leave whether he was kicking and screaming or not...which he was always. Upon my return I always told him, 'See Mommy came back'.
I also started doing this at home too. Whenever I would leave, I would try to discreetly sneak out without being noticed as to avoid the dramatics. But Leonard, finally said "No, he's got to get used to it. Let him watch you leave." Each time I come home, I reinforce the 'Mommy came back' sentiment. Yes, he cries when I leave, but he gets over it in a matter of seconds.
Anyway, back to nursery...so I am very happy to report that the last 2 weeks have been great! I thought last Sunday was a fluke and refused to allow myself to believe we finally broke through to the other side. However, after today's success I dare say we've finally made it. Leo was playing and singing and ate snack having a great time. I am really very happy for him.
Hopefully the next kid won't give me so much trouble or be so dang stubborn.
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7 comments:
Awesome! I can't imagine how much will power that took. Congratulations!
P.S. I think your "Mommy came back" philosophy was super smart. I'm going to share that with all my friends, who are also struggling with the nursery thing.
Yayyyy!!!!!! That's great!
...now starts our struggle--starting after the 22nd :)
You sure are GROWING in your capacity...just like your son! Isn't earth life fun?
Congratulations!!! :)
J.J. had some issue about me leaving for a weekend when he was about 3. We watched a "Stanley" episode about when his mommy left. It is a animal show and they were talking about pigeons. They told Stanley that Mommy pigeons always come home to the baby pigeons. I told him before I left that "Remember Mommy pigeons always come home." When I got home he hugged me and said "Yes, mommy pigeons do come home!" I'm not sure if it would have worked so well if we didn't have pigeons. It was something that he could really relate to.
Its hard but you are doing a great job. Congratulations!
Congrats little Leo!
When will the other kid be here? ;)
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