Just left DD (2.2) in a nursery for the first time ever- come and tell me it'll be fine

[winnybella]

It's downstairs, in the courtyard. It's just for 2,5 hrs. I stayed for few minutes, then tried to leave, then she cried, stayed few minutes longer, she let me go as was absorbed in play.

I feel bad. But then she needs to start socializing a bit more plus needs to be around French language more (we're in France).

It'll be ok, right? The woman there promised to call me if she won't be able to console her and I'll go there.

It'll be fine. Go and keep yourself busy. She will really be Ok and will get a lot out of it.

it really will be fine

I know, I should savour the time alone, but keep on looking through the window as can see part of the nursery and she seems to be playing with something.

Should I go there in 20 minutes or so? Or wait for the woman to call me?

Can't hear any crying

Shall I just leave her there til I do?

What did you tell the staff you'd do? Unless you said you'd be back in 20 mins then wait until the end of her session or they call you.

Just leave her. She'll be fine.

I did say that I'll be back in 30 minutes or so (as I was worried that she'll be traumatised iyswim ), but as I can hear almost everything that goes on in there and I can't hear her crying, I'm thinking maybe it's better to leave her there til I do?

It's more of a little play group than nursery, just a few kids and it's for 2.5 hrs. The woman has my phone number and told me she'll call if DD becomes upset.

Just went there and saw DD walking past very absorbed by something and the woman shooed me away so I came back.

Phew

Don't go back in unless you're taking her home. She won't have a concept of time yet - half an hour is indistinguishable from 2 hours, if she's happy playing. If you go back now you'll have to leave her again and it will upset her.

Definitely stay near so you can hear if she cries, but if she does, give them 5-10 minutes to settle her (she might have fallen over or something) before you rush in.

Don't worry! I expect she will be having a fantastic time. And I say this as a very anxious parent who refused to leave her child in a creche for an hour where he was the only child there without my mum or sister being there with him - at 2 he went to a childminder though and he's now 2.6 and waves me off at the door quite happily :)

Thanks Bertie
x-posted with you-just went there without being seen by DD and she seems fine.
I guess you're right re: concept of time.

DS went straight to the kindergarten when he was 3.7 and didn't care about being left there at all, but DD is still tiny and I was very worried, especially as her French is almost non-existant yet.

I think you should go out, your dd will be fine, they will call you if she needs you, and I actually think that you being able to see her is not going to do you any good! If you really don't want to go out, then do something that you wouldn't normally be able to do with dd around: watch a dvd, do some baking, anything to distract yourself

Yes, I can't relax, I keep on looking through my kitchen window to see whether she's ok.

Now, the problem is that she'll want to go there every morning . We can't really afford it.

How did it go winnybella?

She wanted to take the toy buggy home with her but other than that it was fine.
I think I might take her there tomorrow as well.
And on the selfish note, omg, even 2.5 hours make so much difference to my day- I had time to relax, to plan my revision for an exam in 9 weeks, have a coffee in peace. Lovely.