Saying Goodbye

Madison has been in the same daycare since she was eight weeks old. Madison's red hair quickly made her a favorite of Dianne and her husband, Red. (apptly named for his red hair). We have been very blessed to have Dianne care for Madison and teach her so much while I am work. It is nice to know that someone we trust is taking care of her each day. Although we work on it together, Madison learned her alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes from Dianne's hard work.

Sadly, today was Madison's last day with Dianne.

My office and Mike's office are both less than two miles from our home - but Dianne's home daycare is across town. I spend nearly an hour and a half on the road each day, driving 30 miles total and I only go to daycare and work. Originally, we had chosen Dianne because infant care in our part of town is much more expensive and hard to find. With gas hovering at $4.00 per gallon, it is getting very expensive to continue driving so far. I also realized that I was wasting precious time while on the road.

With a heavy heart - I started searching for care in our own neighborhood. It took at least eight months to find the right place. It is two minutes from our house and I could even park my car and ride my bike to work! There is a spot open for the baby and I think Madison will fit right in. Dawn has a big backyard with lots of toys to play with and a puppy dog which Madison is slightly terrified of.

Madison has been putting on a brave face telling all her friends at Dianne's that her "new Dianne's" has a puppy dog. I think it is cute.

Last week, I started talking with her in the car about saying goodbye to her old daycare friends. I said, "You'll have to make new friends at your new daycare. It's always fun to make new friends!" As if sensing my apprehension for her, Madison said "Don't worry Mommy, I'll make new friends!"

She seems very excited for the change. I hope her excitement lasts when I drop her off at the new daycare on Monday and leave her there - all alone with nobody that she knows.

Change is scary but change is good.

So today, we say goodbye to a wonderful provider. Madison brought Dianne some flowers that she picked out herself, with a thank you card and a gift card to my favorite Italian restaurant. She had to have her picture taken with Dianne on her last day. I'm sure there will be lots of hugs and tears when I pick her up at 4:45 today.

Even though I am a little nervous for the change, it did feel good this morning knowing it was the last time I would drive across town in heavy rush hour traffic, fighting stoplights, the train, and out of town clinic visitors that don't know where they are going and therefore forget how to drive.

Indeed, it felt good.