New Mom: What I Learned at School

There was a curriculum night last night for parents of infants and toddlers at the Bright Horizons child care center my daughter attends. We hemmed and hawed about whether or not to attend the event that coincided with dinner, bath, and bedtime for New Girl. Ultimately, I decided to pick her up early and bring her, along with one of her friends, to my office for dinner, changed her into her pj’s and brought her back for the evening child care the center provided, and then New Dad brought her home and put her to bed while I stayed for the full evening.

It was so worth it. I know how masterful New Girl’s teachers are with toddlers, but I was equally impressed, inspired, and reassured about the poise and confidence they demonstrated in the adult-only setting. I learned so much about how they offer limited choices, guide learning and positive behaviors, keep their cool under pressure, and support each other. Just like parents, they indicated that one of the most important ways they work as a team is to support and reinforce what their co-teachers communicate to a child. I learned that, just like me, they have bad days when the toddler tantrums get to be too much, and they turn to coworkers to give them a breather. I learned that my daughter isn’t the only one who stops on a dime when her teachers instruct “red light” but acts like her mother is speaking a foreign language when I do the same. I learned that very few children are potty trained before moving on to preschool and that my daughter knows what it means to be a “proper diner.” I learned that my child is better able to adjust to changes in her routine than I ever anticipated (she LOVED the evening child care and didn’t want to leave). Finally, I learned that LL Bean supposedly sells toddler mittens that zip up the middle for easier dressing. My homework assignment is to find them.