Parenthood is one of the toughest roles we play. It’s more work that going to grad school, finishing a dissertation, teaching a class for the first time. No matter what we do, our children will be on our mind. As they become older, but not old enough to truly verbalize what they are thinking and feeling, we make decisions and hope they are the best.
My little one is going to switch day care. Yes, a small thing, but a decision that has been hard. She needs kids her age to play with. She needs to learn to share, stand on her own, and all those other things about socialization. Of course, I’m nervous about this impending transition, but even more nervous to tell her current day care provider who has been with her since the beginning. But I think sociology has taught me a lot about this that I don’t have time to explain now and my gut tells me its time to move on. In home was great for the individual attention and all the extra things they did for us. But there are some things in home cannot give (i.e. when the daycare provider is sick), having dual working parents with one in school also (partners turn as soon as I am finished this summer). I know this will be hard on everyone, but I think it is the best decision. As a sociologist, I believe socialization is very important and much learning is from being around others. In her new day care, there will be kids from many different ethnicities and nationalities along with a divers income line. She will learn to play with kids and how to socialize.
This probably isn’t interesting to others, but it is something I have struggled with as a working parent.
