Headed to Kindergarten...

[Guest]

I have a 5 yr old daycare girl that has been here with me for 4.5 years & is headed to kindergarten in about 20 days or so. Her parents have decided to send her to a school outside the district in which we live, so that means she won't be coming to daycare anymore. I knew this day was coming, but I'm an emotional wreck about her leaving. I have come to love her like my own child. Her family & my family have become friends over the years & we do things together outside of the daycare from time to time. But...I worry that she (or her parents) will forget about me. I'm afraid that she won't come back to visit me. I have so much anxiety surrounding this whole thing, I almost wish school would never start so she wouldn't have to leave. Her mom & I have talked a few times about how hard the last day is going to be. We both expect to be a hot mess that day! This little girl has been with me through thick & thin, good times & bad. I just love her so much. lovethis
So my question is, what would you to to make that last day special? I made a photo book for her with lots of pictures from daycare since she was a baby until now on the shutterfly website. It turned out really nice, and I plan on giving it to her the last day...but I wonder if I should do more. Any suggestions or advice? Thank you

*Ahhhh, I'm crying even as I type this!! This is going to be one of the hardest things ever for me & my family.

[e.j.]

It's so hard to let go sometimes, isn't it? Try to focus on the fact that since you've become friends with the family outside of day care, there's a good chance the relationship will continue as long as you work to keeping it going. Just because she's moving on to Kindergarten, doesn't mean you won't ever see her again.

As far as that last day is concerned, I usually create a photo book for each child when they leave my day care. The kids love it and the older ones always ask if I will make one for them, too, so I would say it's a great gift and you don't need to do more. If you want to do more, though.....I've given the photo book along with a canvas bag filled with crayons, a coloring book and/or drawing pad and a book called "The Night Before Kindergarten". I trace the other kids' handprints on the outside of the canvas bag and write their names under their handprint so the child who is leaving will have the bag as a memento, too.

[sharlan]

I have a 5 yr old daycare girl that has been here with me for 4.5 years & is headed to kindergarten in about 20 days or so. Her parents have decided to send her to a school outside the district in which we live, so that means she won't be coming to daycare anymore. I knew this day was coming, but I'm an emotional wreck about her leaving. I have come to love her like my own child. Her family & my family have become friends over the years & we do things together outside of the daycare from time to time. But...I worry that she (or her parents) will forget about me. I'm afraid that she won't come back to visit me. I have so much anxiety surrounding this whole thing, I almost wish school would never start so she wouldn't have to leave. Her mom & I have talked a few times about how hard the last day is going to be. We both expect to be a hot mess that day! This little girl has been with me through thick & thin, good times & bad. I just love her so much. lovethis
So my question is, what would you to to make that last day special? I made a photo book for her with lots of pictures from daycare since she was a baby until now on the shutterfly website. It turned out really nice, and I plan on giving it to her the last day...but I wonder if I should do more. Any suggestions or advice? Thank you

*Ahhhh, I'm crying even as I type this!! This is going to be one of the hardest things ever for me & my family.

Sometimes they come back to visit on their own. I had two sisters stop by Sunday while out bike riding. One of them will be going to Raging Waters with me tomorrow. Another dcg went whale watching yesterday and covered while I went on vacation in June.

[daycarediva]

awwww! Maybe take a picture of her from her first day (or close to it) and her last day (or recent) and put it in a side by side frame for Mom?

I come to really love these kids too. This is soooooo much more than a job!