The experiences your son is having at two and a half years of age will have
an effect on his entire life. If he is crying and screaming, there is a
reason. If he wants to be with his mother, you are the one he really should
be with. If he hates daycare, I feel very sorry that you find it necessary
to leave him there.
You wonder how long it will take him to adjust - well I wonder how long it
might take the people at daycare to adjust to his needs. Find out what it is
about that place that makes him so unhappy? Have they not figured out yet
how to make a little boy of two feel welcome and comfortable? I guess not.
Find another daycare, or a friendly neighbour or relative who will treat him
better.
If he wants to go to the store - why should he not? You have just switched
daycares; do it again, and next time let him help you choose where he will
be spending such a large part of his day. The best place for a child of
this age is with his own parents, in his own home.
Having said all that, I suppose you are still going to try to make him
"adjust" to the daycare of your choice, and to please stop screaming when
you leave him there. If you decide to persist in this, take along some of
his favourite toys so he will at least be surrounded by "friends" while he
is sitting in "time out". You should also befriend one of the other mothers
and have your son and her child play together this weekend so your son will
have a special friend next time he goes to daycare.
Is there any way you could take him to work with you? If not, invite one or
two of the other daycare children over to your house for supper, right away,
so your son will not be among strangers.
I hope you can work this out because I sure hate to think of that poor
little boy being so unhappy at such an early age.
Truly yours,
GG
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