We really like the nursery we chose and have got to know the staff, as much as we can, over the past three years and I feel quite emotional about him moving on - not necessarily because it means he will be starting his school years, but more about the fact he has known the people there, and many of his friends, since he was a little bubs.
It's got me thinking about all the memories Ethan has made at nursery, even though he's young, and everything they do for the children. Here's just a few things I am grateful for, that make me smile or that I will remember from Ethan's nursery and preschool days:
* The way the staff are always cheery, happy to see the children, handle strops and tears and take exploding nappies in their stride
* How the staff call us 'Mum' and 'Dad' when we pick Ethan up and they tell us about his day
* All the stages that they encourage and support - it amazes me how much they know and how much they do to help the little ones learn shapes, colours, numbers, emotions, social skills... the list is really endless
* The lovely seasonal displays they create, in the reception and in the rooms
* When Ethan moved up from one room to another, they would always prepare a summary sheet that day with photos and a full account of what he had done and how he was settling in
* The creativity they put into everything - honestly, I wouldn't be able to come up with half of the ideas that they do
* The little trips they take the children on, from popping to the local greengrocers and working with the florist down the road to display artwork from the children to taking them on trips to see Santa and on the bus into town to visit a science museum
* Seeing the photo slideshow on the screens giving snippets from the fun the children have been having
* The variety of activities keeps them all so busy and the garden is always a highlight of Ethan's day
* The artwork and presents they make for special dates and occasions, they are so thoughtful making handmade cards with the children and even inviting mums, dads and grandparents in at Easter and Christmas and so on to celebrate together with the group
* The nativity they put on for parents last Christmas was so wonderful and really showed how much fun the children have together
* Really, just how they take care of Ethan and his friends just like they are their own children, always there with cuddles to make them feel better
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| Just look at that smile! We took these Easter eggs from the Co-op into nursery for the staff to say thank you, as part of the #GoodEgg campaign |
It can't be an easy job for them - we all know that being a parent can be really challenging, so just imagine dealing with someone else's stroppy toddler moments - and they must be so worn out by the end of the day. But I hope that they too know how much we appreciate them, as working mums and dads and as children learning about the world. We hand over our pride and joy to them every day and they do whatever they can to entertain, care and guide our little ones.
I'll never forget the first day that I dropped Ethan off to nursery, on my first day back at work after maternity leave, and how I couldn't even say anything to the staff because I was that full of emotion, my eyes filled with tears and a lump in my throat. It was so hard to do but in a short space of time, I saw how much the nursery did for Ethan and how much it helped him to grow and it became easier to drop him off and leave him behind. For the thought and care they have shown, I will always be grateful and in next to no time, I no longer worried or got upset about taking Ethan to nursery because he loved to be there. Each week, we have watched him gain so much from the experiences he has with his friends, both adults and children, and for that reason I will feel so much when he leaves the nursery for the last time.
I'll probably have eyes filled with tears and a lump in my throat all over again.
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