Supportive thread if your DC are going back to nursery 1st June and you need a hand hold

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

I wonder if anyone else is in the same boat? We've decided it's right for DS and right for us as we're struggling to wfh, but still incredibly nervous. I don't know anyone else in the same situation as my friends all have older children who either aren't going back to school, or are with social distancing which obviously won't happen at nursery.

Anyone up for a hand hold?

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

Hopeful bump!

[abczyx]

Yes, in the same situation. I don't know whether we are doing the right thing. His older sister is starting back at school and he will lose his playmate. We are trying to work from home. So have agreed to a return to nursery but I'm nervous. He could go back later, and we could make that work, but at some point he does have to return and I'm not sure I'll feel any more confident then either. Going to keep the situation under review and if we get concerned we will remove him and consider it a sunk cost. That's the current plan. I may change my mind!

[Tyranttoddler]

Really glad to read this. Sending mine back in tomorrow. I'm a teacher and we have been told we might be working from 1st June so I signed her up to go back- as it is I've heard nothing from school so I don't even know if I needed to. That being said, working from home has been so difficult. Also I do really want her to see other children, but I feel like my friends and family think I'm sending her in too soon.
I'm worried about how she will settle after so long away, but trying to remind myself what lovely staff they are and how much she always loved it.

[Wait4nothing]

My two are going back this week (I’m a teacher and will be in far more this half term). I’m far more confident after speaking at length to the nursery manager. Just hope the youngest manages ok 🤞 without his key worker or any kids his age 😬 but he does have his older brother

[Haribolover]

Mine can't go back yet as we're in Scotland and they're not open yet. However, if they were she'd be going back and will be back the day they open here.

Working from home with a 6 and 4 yr old is killing us trying to do everything and they're suffering from our lack of time and lack of social interaction outside the 4 of us.

I feel the risk of her going back and being potentially exposed to covid is outweighed by risk of keeping her home and the damage to mental health and development.

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

How lovely to hear from you all. It sounds like we've all been through the same thought processes. I definitely have in mind that I can pull him out if I lose my nerve and I've been round the houses on tomorrow, wait two weeks, wait until July and I think it's just procrastinating. My biggest issue is mum guilt... what if my judgement is clouded by how tough it's been wfh? It's been such a tough decision. good luck tomorrow!

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

Yes my son is going back tomorrow. I'm worried about how long it will take him to adjust back to being around other children, hes loved being home with mummy and daddy and says he doesnt want to go back :(

[FloggingMoll]

I'm in one of the home nations who are still in lockdown, and I'm in such a bind with my DD. We could keep her home but she misses nursery and her friends so much. She asks literally every day can she go back. So when the doors open I'll hopefully be sending her back in.

BUT, and I know this will sound bad to those shielding, with at-risk family members, but DD won't be going back if there's social distancing for the little ones. She won't understand it (she's 2) and I think that would have a more damaging impact.

But either way I'll feel I'm doing wrong.

[ParkheadParadise]

I'm in Scotland. Dd is going back to nursery on the 11th June.
Your LA has plans for all children starting school in August to return in june.
From the 15th she will be going 3 times a week.
I'm happy to send her and she wants to go.

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

Well I'm an emotional mess. Drop off was tough and he was extremely clingy. Now I'm back home and I think the weight of the decision has overwhelmed me. Having a massive bawl. Hope everyone else is holding up a bit better!

[abczyx]

Just dropped off too. Very difficult. I'm going to sit down with a cup of tea to calm down. Hopefully it will get easier.

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

My partner did drop off as only one parent allowed, little guy was really sad :(

[Tyranttoddler]

I dropped off too. All the other little ones seemed happy to go in. Mine screamed and wailed and held onto my clothes so I had to unpick her hands from me and they pulled her away. Feels ridiculous now I'm sitting at home in the garden having a coffee. But reading your posts has helped.

[Tyranttoddler]

I didnt cry when I came off mat leave. But this was totally different, probably because she's an actual little person now. Feel like I've lost my little buddy. I know I'm being crazy!!

[ssd]

My heart goes out to you all. Bloody tough decision to make. Mine are older so I have other worries.

Hope all of your DC settle in and enjoy themselves. They will probably get used to it quicker than we will.

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

Yes, this is completely different to when he first started after my mat leave. Then he'd done settling in and I was preoccupied by work. Now, much as we've been tearing out hair out, I just want to keep him wrapped up in cotton wool at home. I know he'll be fine in the end, but golly it's emotional!

[Tyranttoddler]

Isn't it. I'm trying to remember that partly I'm doing this because I want her little life to have some normality to it. Bloody virus.

[northernbelle84]

Mine went back today screaming No No No as they unpeeled him from me and carried him over the threshold. I've just had a little cry too. When nursery closed for lockdown he wasn't walking or talking.

[Cornishbelle]

Feeling exactly the same, oh did drop off as I start work 715 from home, but actually achieved nothing so far as this is all I can think about!! Just hope we've made the right decision

[MindatWork]

Ohhhh @northernbelle84 that made me weep . DD is going back in a couple of weeks as we have some annual leave to take but we’re going to be in the exact same situation.

She had only just started toddling when lockdown started and is now running, saying yes/no etc (and making her opinions v clear). We’ve already been through the peeling off and handing over phase when I went back to work in November, not sure I can deal with it again... for you x

[Mycatsmellsbad]

Our two went back this morning. Eldest was excited (3) youngest (2) was confused - kept saying ‘nursery closed’. But when someone they knew opened the door they just looked really pleased to see them and both walked in without any fuss which has eased my guilt massively. I suspect tomorrow might be a different story however.

I am confident we are doing the right thing in sending them back. They just about remember their friends names and those who work there and we were starting to struggle with offering them more challenging things from home with both of us trying to work at the same time. I just hope they stay open long enough to make it worthwhile.

[northernbelle84]

@MindatWork I rang them and he settled down fine after the first five minutes. He was exactly the same pre lockdown so I should have been prepared but they know how to push our buttons don't they!

It's been so special to be at home when he's been learning to walk, so thankful for that.

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

I'm torn to ring or not :(

[Tyranttoddler]

Did you ring?

[northernbelle84]

Picked little one up and he'd clearly had an absolute blast. Filthy dirty, exhausted, and sang all the way home in the car! Hope your littles also got on okay. 100% the right decision for us.