The First Day of Many: Saylor’s Daycare Journey Begins!

Facing the Hard Decision: Putting Saylor in Daycare for the First Time at 15 Months.

Making the decision to send saylor to daycare for the first time was, without a doubt, one of the hardest choices i’ve ever faced. At 15 months old, she had spent every day with me-her constant companion, her safe place. The thought of handing her over to someone else, even just for a few hours, felt like a weight I couldn’t bear to carry. But there I was, standing at a crossroads: walk away from my job to stay home with her, or to put her in daycare so I could continue working to provide for the two of us.

The truth is, neither option felt easy.

I wasn’t sure how saylor would do with other kids. She’s alway’s been a little shy, a little slow to warm up, and I had no idea how she’d handle being in a new enviroment with unfamiliar faces and routines. Would she feel overwhelmed? Would she cry the whole time? Would she be okay without me there to comfort her? It was hard to picture, and even harder to imagine leaving her in a place that wasn’t home.

And then there was me. I wasn’t sure if I could be okay being away from her 11 hours straight. Eleven hours-half a day, every weekday-without seeing her, without hearing her laugh or watching her play. It was a huge shift, and the thought of it made my heart ache. Every part of me wanted to stay home with her, to keep her close, to keep her in that bubble of safety I had built for us. But reality set in. I had to work to support us. I had to find a way to balance providing for her future while still being there for her in the present.

The guilt was overwhelming. Every time I thought about daycare, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Was it selfish to prioritize my career when she needed me more than ever? Would she feel abandoned? Was I really doing what was best for her, or was I just making a decision out of necessity?

But in the end, I realized this was a decision many parents have to make- and there’s no perfect answer. I had to trust that daycare, while not ideal, would offer Saylor new experiences and help her grow in ways I couldn’t provide at home. I also had to trust myself that I could be okay, even if the first few weeks were hard for both of us. The bond we share isn’t something that can be broken by a few hours apart, and I know im doing everything I can to give her the best future possible

Sending Saylor to daycare at 15 months wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It was emotional, overwhelming, and filled with doubt. But it’s the path we’re on now, and im slowly learning to trust in the process- and in the strength of both of us.