How did you handle it? Did you cry? Did you go home and sleep? Were you just so excited to be back at work you were happy? Did you worry yourself sick?
I guess I should clarify that I meant the first day you took your child to daycare - not the first time your parents took you. Of course, that could be interesting too.
My daughter was all of 3 weeks old when I left her at day care - I couldn’t afford to be off work in a non-paid status. Anyway, I felt as if I was the world’s worst mom leaving my tiny one in the care of strangers - I fought not to cry. But because she was so young, she was the instant darling of the staff, and over the years she was there, not only did they take great care of her, they also took pictures of her daily activities for me, and they were genuinely upset when we moved and I had to take her out.
Interestingly, a few months ago, we ran into the woman who ran that day care - she has since sold it and retired - but all these years later she still remembers my kid (who is a HS freshman now) And I no longer feel like an evil Mom… 
My husband and I ended up with two days to find daycare for our first child. It’s a long story, but basically we were hired by the same firm at the same time and they said “can you start in two days?” We made the rounds on the first day and saw a couple of places. They were, to me, extremely depressing. Our daughter was five months old at the time and I could see that she would just be left in a crib most of the day, out of the way of the toddlers.
Fortunately, the priest at our church knew of a woman who had been a babysitter to dozens of kids in the church. She was taking care of her husband, who was very ill, but she would be willing to help us out. We went to meet her, bringing Hannah along. She held the baby, who fussed for a moment and then promptly went to sleep on her shoulder. We were so relieved we didn’t have room to feel guilty.
We stayed with the same woman for almost four years and she really became another grandma to the kids. We were hoping she would see our son into preschool (he’s two), but her health is just getting too bad. Fortunately we’ve found another sitter our son really seems to like. There’s a sort of network of Portuguese grandmas here who make a career out of home daycare. They’re a vanishing breed and we’ve been very lucky to have them.
Mrs. Spritle and I were very lucky. We had met with a day care provider a couple of time before Mrs. S had to return to work. There was also a 2 week “underlap” when Mrs. S had to return to work but the DCP was unable to accept another infant. I took those 2 weeks off work (just 3 days a week). During those days, I took the littlest doper to the DCP’s house and we all played for a couple of hours. When I had to drop him off on “Day 1”, he was excited about getting to stay.
He was the hit of the crowd. In fact, I recently dropped him off while another parent was there and she said, “Well there’s little Spritle, the belle of the ball.” When her kid gets home, he tells her all about the day with Spritle Jr.
We were very fortunate that the littlest doper didn’t have to start day-care until 6 1/2 months. It was still hard, but knowing he was happy, and that mom had two weeks of “transition time” (she had left him but he wasn’t in day care yet) really helped.
It sounds kind of like you dropped your little one off today, or will do so soon. If so, I’m sending warm thoughts your way. Kids are quite resilient; they deal changing care givers quite well. He/she will always know who mommy is, even though there will be love for the DCP.
Also, if your child doesn’t like the day care situation, provider, kids, etc. he/she will let you know. There will be changes in eating habits, sleeping habits and a general fussiness regarding all things day care-ish. Read your kid well. It might not be a problem, per se, just that your kid doesn’t get along with that day care.
Oh, yeah. Mrs. Spritle and I send the littlest doper off with a “you should know” sheet that tells the DCP when he woke up, when he ate, pooped last, will be ready to eat again, when he’ll be ready for a nap and other stuff. We also get a similar sheet from the DCP every day. It is truly helpful. It may be a consideration for you.
:):)
I got my hair pulled, got milk pourn all over me, and was blamed for it. Watched soap operas, when just on the other channel was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, took a nap, and got my hair pulled more.
Basically, day care sucked.
Yep, I dropped him off for the first time yesterday. I kinda felt like it would have been easier to knaw off my arm and leave that with them than my baby. We all made it through fine though. When I went to pick him up they said he had been a happy content baby all day so I am not as worried anymore.
Thanks for the warm thoughts yesterday Spritle. I needed them! They must have worked because I feel alot better about the whole deal now.
sk8rixtx
got any bullies you want me to beat up for you? 
It was horrible. And I say this even though it’s obvious to anyone who knows me that I am the last person in the world to have the patience to stay home with Cranky Jr. full time.
I just felt guilty. I hated the idea that when he cried, his would be just one of many demands that a caregiver would have to juggle. I worried about him having to wait, and imagined him crying and crying unhappily, wondering why no one was picking him up or feeding him. I extrapolated this into deep irreversible psychological damage to him.
Then I got used to it. It helped that I had a caregiver who believes that babies belong in her arms. She had no swing, no bouncy seat, no exersaucer, and her crib was crammed full of toys. She just held him most of the time. And she adored him. That’s what I needed: someone who would find him just as wonderful as we did, so he’d feel loved.
Occasionally that first year, when he’d be having trouble transitioning between daycare and home (usually signified by horrible meltdowns about an hour after we picked him up), I’d feel bad again. But my daycare provider has sainted qualities that I lack, and I’m happy he has her. I’m also happy that he has developed close loving relationship with the other kids, since he’s an “only.”
I clearly remember my first day of day care (and what an appropriate day to remember—I graduate from high school later today). I went to the Kinder Care on Torrey Pines in Las Vegas, Nevada (if anyone recognizes it). It was 1987, and it was the year before I started kindergarten there. I was dressed in this nice, almost plaid dress and my hair was done all nice–curled and the such. I remember walking through the parking lot with my mom and into the center up at the front desk. I stayed near my mom, but I really wanted to explore the area. Mom led me around the corner and past one room and into another where the kids were. There were two long tables with little chairs and various activities were going on. Mom said goodbye, and I sat down near the Lincoln Logs and Fat Legos. Across from me, at the table, was a blonde haired little girl glaring at me. And that’s all I remember. That little girl would end up being my best friend for life. Strange, huh? As for being scared, I wasn’t. I was a very sick infant, in the hospital all the time, so I was used to being alone. I’m sure after seeing the little girl glaring at me, I wanted my mom back, but I got over it.
Oh shoot! You meant for parents with their kids. Now I feel stupid.
Neptune - Conga-rats on graduation!!
Don’t feel stupid. I like hearing that you didn’t suffer irreversible trauma from being in daycare. It makes me feel better about leaving my little man with people who are basically strangers.
I have tried to remember my first day but I was in and out of daycare centers from the time I was 6 wks. old so it is really impossible. Your first day sounds alot like my first day at Kindergarten though. I remember getting into a fight with this guy about whether or not popsicles melt faster in the shade or sun. (Kinda surreal to listen to kid’s conversations sometimes, no?) Turns out we were set up to carpool together. He and I and another guy ended up being really good friends for a long time.
(Scott and Brad, wherever you are, HI!)
Oh… My… GAWD!!! I think I still have underwear from 1987!
(congrats on the graduation thing.)
No problem. Easy. I then went into my boss and thanked him for employing me so I wouldn’t have to be a stay at home mom.
(I would be the world’s worst stay at home mom).
I did call and find out how he was doing - because I thought I should. He was fine.
Now, when my daughter started, I was fine, but my son (who is a year older than her - so he would have been fourteen months when she started daycare) screamed all day. He thought Mom had left his little sister behind accidentally.
Word from experience - they don’t mind too much when they are little - and, if you keep a routine (mom always drops off, or dad does, at the same time each day) there will be far fewer bad days for them. Around our house, Dad drops off, and Mom dropping off will spoil the whole day.