Daycare developments

After an extensive search of the available options, Shay started at a new school/daycare this week.  Options were fairly limited, as I wanted somewhere that would accept both kids and didn't require us to pay more than we could potentially earn together.  The preschool scene is pretty crazy here, with tuitions exceeding $2000/month - per kid!  And you have to apply the preceding year to have any hope of getting into a "top tier" preschool that places kids at prestigious grade schools later.  I may be exaggerating, but all of the information that I have been gathering is pretty overwhelming. 

Since I don't have the daycare situation worked out and I haven't yet begun to job-hunt (couldn't take them on interviews!), I can be flexible about taking Shay and picking him up.  We hang out at home for awhile in the morning, then catch the crosstown bus.  "Crosstown" means going from east to west, or vice versa, and we are as east as you can get without swimming in the East River.  The bus typically gets pretty packed and the kids get antsy, so it's not the most fun ride.  New Yorkers have been really nice to the kids, though; everyone wants to talk to them and no one (except me) tells them to be quiet when they start complaining (loudly!).   Then we have to fight through a sea of people to get a few blocks from the bus drop off to the daycare.  I have walked them all the way to the school (in the stroller), but takes about 30 minutes and the weather may prevent this option in the winter.  They are on a waiting list for a closer school, but I'm not holding my breath. 

Shay seems excited to go to school, and they go to Madison Square Park (mentioned/pictured in previous post) to take advantage of the sprinklers.  Ever since he started, though, he has been having a hard time going to sleep at night.  I think it's taking longer for him to wind down.  I think Mila misses him during the day, too; she is all over him when he gets home.  I think it's so cute, but he starts feeling a little bombarded by her intense energy.

The daycare does not take kids until they are 15 months old, so I am still trying to keep Mila busy at home.  We visit the playroom downstairs and the local playgrounds, and she "helps" me run errands and do laundry. Though she is progressing so much, I still think of her as a baby and maybe spoil her too much.  I know that I expect less of her than I did of Shay at that age.  At this point, I am not sure if I will stay home with her until 15 months or find temporary care.  If I stay home with her, I am feeling like I will have to step up my game and draw on my preschool teacher days.



Previous pic that shows the playroom. There's an outside area too, but we haven't ventured there yet.



Mila in the playroom today.  She hung out with some older girls and their nannies.



Learning to use a fork.  She is very persistant and stubborn, wanting to do it herself.

One thing that I have learned is how adaptable my kids are.  Everyone says that kids are adaptable, but I didn't believe it about my kids until I saw it.  They still do have a hard time if they don't eat or sleep well, but I can tweak things and help them to bounce back.  Good to note that I am learning a few things along the way...


The bus that goes directly to our apartment was super-full today and we couldn't get on.  We caught a different bus and walked several blocks along the river.  Shay "won the race" home and Mila was a distant second.