Just Call Me Kate

Daycare thinks we are divorced. Jon & Kate Plus 8 ... minus the douche husband, bad haircut and 7 kids.

It's official. I am a horrid mother.

I thought - if you got things out there, it made you feel better. Communicate and all that. Not so much.

Last week (I think) I brought L in the for the first time in a few days possibly weeks because I've been traveling. As I was putting her lunch bag away in the refrigerator I heard the teacher say, "Oh L, are you staying with Mommy this week?"

I didn't really connect until I was in the car, and what was I supposed to do? Go back in, pop my head in the class and say what?

"Um excuse me, it's me, Kate. I just want to clarify we're actually happily married. Sure we travel all the dang time, and while our plan was to move so that this wouldn't be the issue and it has in fact been compounded and worse than it has ever been... but anyway. The best laid plans.... anyway so we are happily married. FYI. OK - by L see you later, love you! Bye!"

But I could have been mistaken. Right?

Yesterday, it was confirmed yesterday.

When I went to pick up L and found a poster on the cork board with the question:

"Do I have a house and who lives in it?"

EACH and every kid in the class is listed with their answer. Well each and every kid...with the exception of L.

Think I'm making this up?


Yup. That's right. I took a picture of it - to show you I wasn't crazy. It's really blurry because I was sneaking it but you get the idea. Either she has no idea who she lives with or they didn't want to ask her? I don't know.

Just call me Kate. Looking forward to the contract negotiations, lipo, and the paparazzi. I love those bastards.

It's not a Democracy!

Last Friday the Guarro's took a road trip to CT to re-check out the day care locations. Though the votes are in and 75% are in the Prime Real Estate camp, I'm pretty sure we're going Nursery University. It's not for sure, but that's what we are thinking. We have one more conversation to have but I'm fairly sure the snot nosed toddlers are what did C in. That and the Director of Prime Real Estate was kind of a B on wheels. Well maybe that is harsh, not so much wheels as much as she was a B on cogs. She didn't remember me, she didn't apologize for an unanswered email or unreturned phone call, nothing. And C claims the smells coming from the walls were reminiscent of poop smeared on the walls. I didn't smell it, but I can't say for sure I didn't NOT smell it. We're working out the details, but right now it looks like bombshells for a portion of time, the Cat for some other portion of time and then off to Nursery University.

My little girls all growns up.

ps. I rechecked the bombshells and I must have cut and copied something wrong. She checks out, as far as facebook goes. I have spoken with 2 references and while one was as exciting as poop on the wall they were both amazingly positive. I'm going to give it a go and (try) to forget about my thoughts of Law&Order.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Mother chucker. What is up with decision making? I used to be good at it, but I swear the birth of my child has changed my life in so many ways, including making decisions. It's crippling. I went to visit day cares yesterday and it's not going to be an easy decision like I thought. I like them all for different reasons. FML.

I'm taking a family vote.

Place 1 : Nursery University

Pros: They are structured, like a real school - have a curriculum, theme weeks, and lots of communication home to parents. Calendars, newsletters & bulletin boards, oh MY! It is more of a community. There is a parent "association". "Mixers" if you will - where we (the parents) are more actively involved in the day to day. We can sign up to read stories, come do a show and tell (oh of what I am not sure, but to give an example). The Director developed/started the program 25 years ago and staff turn over is low low low (according to her, but I may or may not have found a difference of opinion posted on the Internet - however it was posted in 06). It seems though that the peeps that work there have been there since the beginning of time. Bigger classes (2-8 ration teacher to kid) and more of a program they have open houses, with kids and without - and while I have not a clue what they will talk about, it's more of a school. It is close enough to the new place- where if it was a nice day I could walk to pick her up, etc. Less than a mile, 13 min walk according to my phone. I call this place Nursery University because it reminds me a recent documentary made about pre-schools in NYC> Hott stuff. Serious stuff. Seriously feeling like my life. Like we are needing to start thinking college, now.

Cons: Outside play area is not great, at all. It's actually crap. They do NOT do time outs- do "redirection" - so if L is throwing sand at a kid. They will talk to her about how to play with sand. If she doesn't stop- then she will sit with a teacher to 'discuss it' and if she doesn't stop have her start playing with something else. Now again, she is 2 so I'm not sure what the F they are going to discuss.

Place 2 : Bombshells

Pros: They are an at home day care. 2 women, around our age (slamming, by the way - like hott hott hott. Like I'd do 'em). No more than 8 kids - same ratio. Age of the kids : 10 mo, almost 1, 1 , 2 1/2, 3 1/2 right now. SUPER cute home, lots o toys, structured day. Three words: THEY POTTY TRAIN. Close enough- where if it was a nice day I could walk to pick her up, etc. About 17 minutes, according to my phone less than a mile. I call this place bombshell, because well... it's run by bombshells. Maybe I will walk more in an effort to improve my self esteem due to the sheer beauty of these folks, that's a pro.

Cons: I looked up the main contact's email on facebook. I'm a freak. And the person it picked up was someone who had a totally different name. Only 4 friends. Are they phsyco mommies who borrowed a few friend's kids to make it seem legit but really will baby snatch my baby? (I watch too much SVU/Law & Order)

Place 3 : Prime Real Estate

Pro: A daycare that has themed weeks, but not quite as structured as the 1st place. (Sidebar: When I went to visit the 1st place the woman said she would recommend 2 other sites, and not the one I was visiting. NOW: when I asked "why" she said "you'll see." And I didn't see. I have NO CLUE what the F she was talking about. She wouldn't give me details and was fairly professional in speaking of them - but would prefer I look into other places. Of course the other places she gave me, I had already called and they didn't have space, maybe she knew that? I don't know). Class is 1:4 so same ratio, but different size. WAY better playground. The back yard is fenced in and has every play house and climber we have been pricing out, it was like a real estate lot of plastic homes. Glorious. They do do time out, which I am a fan of. Personally. Chris is a HUGE fan. He practically has a I heart Time Out t-shirt. Super close, L could walk to daycare herself. I call this place Prime Real Estate due to it's proximity and back yard neighborhood of plastic play houses.

Con: Not as school - like. Not as structured and they don't go off of a CT state pre-school curriculum like the first place. But L is going to 2 years old, we're not talking college prep here. I like the structured parent involvement. Prime Real Estate says we can come in whenever, I say I will - but I won't. I don't like there isn't "forced family fun" where we have to come in, participate, etc because while we are welcome to it I know I"ll never do it unless I have to. Truth time.

Now it's your turn, rock the vote - see to the left.