I have been in tears all night, wondering what to do. I know I must sound crazy to others and to my OH, who is great and so understanding at my craziness. My problem is that Lucas, my three-year-old has started saying he doesn’t want to go to nursery.
He started at the end of January, I know it hasn’t been long but he settled in really well. He loves playing with the water, paint, playdoh, etc. He interacts well with the other kids and really likes both his teachers.
Then last week, he got really upset when I took him in and wanted to leave. I thought he was ill so I took him home. The next morning he went back and the teachers said he was great.
My OH has taken him this week and he was upset on Monday but stayed and was fine. Was great yesterday and then today when I took him, he was breaking his heart. The teacher took him and I waited outside for ten minutes. I was worried about him so much, but also aware I am very late for work. Work can wait I know, but I am very conscientious so I do worry. But I know my kids come first.
She came out and told me he was fine, to go and my mother (the real psycho) picked him up and said he had been upset over his playdoh caterpiller being put away with the playdoh.
Ok, I am going on a bit here but my main issue is that I had a horrible experience at nursery, albeit that was twenty-eight years ago but it feels like yesterday. I cried every day when I came home, hid behind the couch saying I didn’t want to go and stayed hidden under a table the whole time at was at nursery. Apparently, this was acceptable as they never got my out from under there. My mother says it was only three months, but that is a lifetime to a child.
I want my baby to have a different experience, to have a happy one. I want him to be happy and confident and have the wonderful childhood I didn’t have.
I am hoping that he is just upset due to his routine being knocked out with his grandpa in hospital. His dad visiting his grandpa and not seeing him or his other gran much.
I don’t want to force him to go but he does enjoy it when he is there, I have seen his wee happy smiley face.
What do I do?
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oh boy, this is so hard isn't it? Have you resolved this yet? found out why he doesn't want to go suddenly? This was such a wonderfully heartfelt post you had tears in my eyes by the end of it.
I think little ones can get unsettled so easily and he may have sensed there's been an upset in the family with his grandpa being ill. I hope he settles back in quickly x
This is such a tough one. I didn't enjoy primary school at all, I was shy and one girl really made my life tough and it's really upsetting to think about your own children going through something similar.I'm sure he'll settle again and I think the most important thing you can do is make sure he can always talk to you about how he is feeling. I really want our son to be independent and confident, but I don't know the magic answer to help that happen!