Janis Benavidez

07May 2007

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Learner’s HoME  (Home of Meaningful Education) is a daycare center/pre-school which is near Jollibee Plaza.

And today, 3rdy started daycare at Learner’s HoME.

He got up quite early than the usual “rise & shine” alarm; he seems to be excited.

As I put him to bed early last night, I told him to be nice and that he should share all the toys there with everybody.  As a mother I know his not-so good points when it comes to toy sharing, may pagka-madamot si 3rdy sa toys. If he likes the toy, don’t ever dare get it from him or else…..(ang malupit, kahit hindi sa kanya yon).

Nasanay na siya that all toys he sees in our house is his. And that’s my dilemma.

On our way to HoME, I was having mixed feelings - excited and worried.

I was having high anxiety, separation anxiety that is (it is weird na parent na ngayon ang may separation anxiety - ako yon).

Kids at HoME are all very nice, it was such pleasant to see how they welcome the newest kid on the block.  I did not stay long, I just wanted to see how he reacts at his first day. Mukhang good boy naman (so far).  I almost cried when I left him there; he did not cry when I bid him “see-you-later crocodile”.

That’s the very first time of me leaving 3rdy to a total stranger. 

Now, I’m starting to allow him to explore new surroundings and get to know people at his one pace.  HoME will be his temporary “shelter” from 9am-5pm, Mondays to Fridays, until e/o July (I’m officially non-Jollibee employee by then). At work, it seemed to be my loooooongest 9-5 sked. I keep thinking about how my “3rdyboy bokbok” is doing.  I can’t wait to pick him up at 5PM. Wish ko lang, walang batang sugatan, walang batang umiyak, walang batang duguan;  and most of all, I wish 3rdy is not the “pasimuno” of all.

I know my son to be a sweetie pie; but the fact that he is alone there with other big boys, I can’t accept the thought of big boys bullying him. And that he is all alone, crying….. mommy isn’t there to defend him.  In public playgrounds and parks, everytime 3rdy run to me because of older boys pushed him I would come to the rescue “Hey you boy, pick someone your own size” (sabay dilat ng mata). Mapagpatol ako sa bata in short. In the next few minutes, nawala ang bata, (im sure natakot yon at umuwi na). Mabuti na lng wala pa akong naeencounter na batang nagsumbong sa parents nila kasi pinandilatan ko sila.

At 3yrs 8mons, 3rdy is still a baby to me and will always be.

His first day was not traumatic as what I thought it was. 

When I picked him up, he had so many things to say  - that he enjoyed rocking horse, playing house (I was amused when he gestured pouring coffee to those tiny, pink cups), bowling (and what you do you call those big Lego bricks?); how he enjoyed singing ABC, Twinkle Twinkle, Baa Baa Black Sheep together with other kids (even if he is out of tune).  All this, no matter how simple it seems, makes me a proud mama.

Even after reaching home, with beaming eyes,  3rdy never got tired of telling stories to grampy and mamay and tita about his first day adventure; he even shared stories w/ Barbie (ang aming aso na walang malay gawin kundi matulog). Haay, walang katapusang kwento . Even if he tells story over and over again, I will never get tired of listening.

But from what teacher told me, 3rdy had a really great first day of daycare.