I like the fashion blog She’s Still Got It, so I visit it at Cafe Mom fairly regularly. While there this morning, I stumbled upon this article: “6 Lies Parents Tell Themselves About Preschool,” by Amy Reiter.
Here’s what she had to say, prompted by the story of the little British boy who left his nursery school and walked home alone:
Here are six lies we tell ourselves each day before we drop our toddlers off at preschool or daycare: 1. He’ll be totally safe: Probably, sure, but of course, we cannot know that. Anything could happen: He could run out of the building, like Alfie. He could get left behind on a field trip. There could be a fire. A teacher could have a psychopathic ex-boyfriend. Unlikely, but who knows?
2. He won’t miss us: He will miss us, terribly, even if he’s not the type to cry about it. Perhaps especially if he’s not the type to cry about it.
3. We won’t miss him: We will miss him, terribly, even if we’re not the type to cry about it. Perhaps especially if we’re not the type to cry about it.
4. He’s happier at preschool than he is with us: Possible, but unlikely. Most kids prefer to be with their moms (or dads), no matter how bedraggled, sleep-deprived and short-tempered she (or he) may be on any given day. Then again, it is probably a fair rationale to remind yourself about the benefits of socialization.
5. The teacher will treat him as if he were her own: She may be good to him, very, very good. But she’s got a whole room of kids to look after. She may not take the time to remove the crusts of his sandwich for him the way he likes it. Then again, that may not be such a bad thing. (See socialization, above.)
6. There really is no other option: There is always another option – though giving up your day job and falling behind on your mortgage may not be a terribly appealing one. But perhaps by acknowledging that we all must make the choices that work for our lives – and that those choices inevitably involve tradeoffs – can help us forgive ourselves for making them.
Boy, was I pissed. If you’re interested, you can scroll down to read my comment, and the comments of others.
I am preschool teacher, hear me roar.
