They grow so ruddy fast. Seriously, I feel like no time at all has passed and before you know it Mabel is 7 months old. Yet so much has happened in the last month in terms of her learning and progress, sometimes I really wish there was a pause button.
I went ahead and invested in the Avent steamer/food processor as many of you recommended. It is a bit of a luxury (I appreciate that I essentially already have the tools to accomplish what it achieves) but my goodness, so convenient! and you know what? that’s exactly what I need right now.
We are slowly moving onto textured food in general and Mabel has been trying all sorts of lovely fruit and vegetables for herself that we place on her tray whenever there’s an opportunity. As you might expect most of it ends up on the floor, smeared around her face or in my barnet. I swear some days I am sporting what one might consider the entire ingredients required to create some kind of natural hair masque. Unfortunately I cannot report an improvement in the overall condition. Just the odd piece of carrot or butternut squash to increase volume.
Mabel is now sitting up for relatively long periods of time unaided and chatters and laughs away incessantly at just about everything and everyone, she really is a bundle of sunshine and joy. Most evenings after she has gone to bed, although it is nice to spend some time just James and I, I find I miss her terribly. Going up and down the stairs numerous times to check on her must be good exercise though right?
The most significant change this month has been that Mabel has officially started nursery. The first time I had to leave her for a full day I sat in the reception area and cried. There was already a box of tissues and one of the very kind staff offered to make me a cup of tea. She told me not to be embarrassed and that it happens all the time – hence the readily available Andrex.
I couldn’t ask for a better nursery in terms of the environment, without boring you with the details it’s very shiny and new with every conceivable piece of equipment you could imagine from a designated sensory room to purpose built tipis in the garden area. Part of a very successful nursery “group” this particular location was further expansion that just happened to be five minutes down the road from where we live. They have only been open since March yet have already achieved an “outstanding” rating by Ofsted. All of the food is organic, I receive a detailed daily report on what Mabel has been up to from when she arrived to the point I’m standing there ready to take her home and they have a night sky lit with a thousand twinkling stars on the ceiling of the “sleep” room.
Do I sound like I am trying to justify her being there and not at home with me? I do that a lot. The guilt is crushing, packing her tiny person belongings the evening before is heart breaking. Yet I know it’s fine. I know she’s doing really well and after a few initial wobbles is happy and content.
Every time I go to collect Mabel, her face lights up like Christmas, and although I wouldn’t change my job for the world, it really is the best part of my day. Of course if I could have her at home with me and simultaneously manage my own business then I would. But I can’t. So I’m dealing with the situation the best I can.
As always please do share your experiences and thoughts in the comments section, and feel free to ask any nursery related questions (although I didn’t include too many details in this feature as you can imagine, from research and experience so far I’m sure I have a lot to share!)
Hi Charlotte, Mabel’s nursery sounds amazing! I think guilt is inevitable whatever you do, I’m very lucky that when I go back to work part time next year my mum is going to have my little girl for me – but then I feel guilty that I’m putting too much on my mum and people have made comments to me about how much kids love nursery and the social interaction etc and she’ll be missing that…. You can’t win!
Out of interest which highchair did you end up buying? I’m currently debating between the ikea one and baby Bjorn… Bit of a price difference and I just can’t decide!! x
Hi Sarah
I am still undecided – We have the Ikea (actually we bought 2 – one for the Grandparents!) and it works fine, Mabel is still a little big for it but we kind of “pad” her in. The Bjorn one looks great, I’m just not sure I can justify the price if it’s not going to be significantly better than the Ikea one? Plus it’s a lot lower and Mabel does seem to like the “height”. Sorry, not very helpful I know! x
No that is helpful, thanks! I think we will probably end up getting the ikea one as so many people seem to be happy with it and its so cheap! Plus I’m eyeing up a lovely Farg & Form insert for it…. x
Does it have clouds?! I want that one – I already have the changing mat and ziplock wash bag 🙂 x
Yes! Really want the grey one with clouds but it’s currently out of stock on the only website I can find it on, I’m watching it like a hawk hoping it comes back in stock! Might get the travel changing mat as well… x
She’s gorgeous Charlotte! X
🙂 x
Hi Charlotte,
Mabel’s nursery sounds amazing – I would love to hang out in a tipi in the garden! My little girl will be going into nursery for 3 days a week starting next year but I need to try to decide what days. I don’t know if I should arrange it for 3 days in a row so that she gets into the routine or space the days out more. I am interested in what experiences others have had with their little ones. I work my full time hours over 4 days (as does my husband) so we will each have a day off at home with Annabel theough the week which is lovely but this means that we work from 7.30am to 5.30pm so our poor girl will be having long sessions to deal with so I think the days we choose for her to go will be important. Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Megan.
Until December Mabel is in nursery Mondays and Thursdays, on a Tuesday I have her (with help from my sister) on a Wednesday my parents have her (I try and see her at lunchtime) and on a Friday she’s with me. From January she’ll be in nursery on a Tuesday as well so it’s kind of 4 days in a row but one day with her Grandparents – hope that makes sense!
We were restricted by availability to be too choosy to be honest but she seems to be doing fine with the current arrangements x
My 8 month old daughter is starting nursery in January and the guilt is already crushing me. Mabel’s nursery sounds amazing, so much nicer than the one we are using, but everywhere has waiting lists and even though I put her down in June there is still no joy at the nicest one. I suppose the guilt will ease, least I hope it does, I just want her to be happy. The thought of packing up her belongings every night as you described makes me want to bawl!
There’s no point in fibbing Diana, the first few weeks are a killer. But it does get easier, promise x
I feel properly guilty because from next month my son is going to continue with 1 day in nursery despite the fact that I won’t be going out to work anymore…I’m going to use the day for writing and finishing my novel. I’ve never had a chance to really give writing a proper go before so I am excited about it but at the same time I feel terrible! However I know he benefits from the social interaction, structured learning and the little bit of independence from me. I also hope that when he does go to pre-school he will settle in quickly as he is already used to a similar setting.
I think it is easier to get them used to nursery at a young age, past 12 months they are a bit too aware and we have had tears almost every drop off for the last year. It’s starting to get better though.
My preference would be nursery days together, I think it would be less disruptive and easier to get into a routine with it. Would also be likely to be the same staff and children each day which will help your little one develop a bond. We definitely notice a difference when drop our son off with his favourite member of staff!
Hi Kathryn! I don’t think you should feel guilty at all, it’s only one day and from the sounds of things really worthwhile, for you and your son. Writing a novel sounds very exciting indeed, I have one “in my head” as it were, just no clue when I would have the opportunity to write it! x
Believe me it does get easier. My Son has been going to nursery two days a week since January and now when he sees the nursery (it has bright coloured fencing) he gets so excited and runs off in without even looking back at me! x
Ha hahaha! in a way Lauren I hope that will be Mabel’s reaction soon! x
The nursery sounds lovely Charlotte, a perfect place to inspire a little mind. I’m feeling the looming dread of going back to work in January and have only had to leave Niema a few times so far… but I know the guilt is all in my head and she will be fine. Yes, I love my job and am financially dependent on it, but I also would want her to have the richness of activities a nursery can offer and time to grow close to family members even if I didn’t need to work. Right now she’s sat on daddys side of the bed playing with a milk bottle lid and a chewed piece of toast while I’m trying to get the online shop finished and feeling grotty because she has been teething and kept everyone up all night! I’m sure she would prefer me to hand her over to one of the smiley ladies (who doesn’t have a things to do list, a day of errands and a shop to get ordered) and go play with their cool toys. I think it certainly gets easier the older they get as they start to communicate a bit more about how much they like something. I still felt guilty when my other 2 went to preschool but collecting them at the end to find them sitting under the hugest pile of box model robots and knowing they’d been busy and creating mess and using more PVA than I have at home meant they were just fine. I’m debating an outdoor forest school for Niema when she’s a bit bigger – we have one just round the corner but not sure if the guilt will be worse if I’m in a nice warm office in the winter and she’s outside in a snowsuit playing in mud in the freezing cold!
Not sure why I am completely incapable of writing a short comment – I always think it is when its in the box and it feels quite concise… and then it lands on the page and takes over the whole of the internet.
ha ha ha! long comments are the best. The time I do spend with Mabel I try and give her 100% of my attention, before she was in nursery it was difficult, there were simply too many work and “life” things that have to be done, in a way I felt even more guilty then than I do now. You can’t win!
Outdoor forest school sounds very interesting?! At Mabel’s nursery they go outside all weathers (They are equipped for it) which I think is a good thing. Plus it gives me an excuse to buy a cute selection of hats and gloves….. x
Yes its a very Scandinavian concept and I love the idea but they are hardcore and there is no inside option. They play in the river, the woods and the mudhut – there is a fire and a bit of shelter. They look for dragons and fairies and make things out of twigs. Elijah made me a ‘mud man stick’ last time he went there and I make him live in the garden. I want to love it – I am all for building dens and creating adventure. I fear though that all the good carbon off-setting the whole forest school may be doing would be ruined by the amount of bleach and steam-vac-overuse by me after she’d spent a day there though.
As an aside, 2 of my best friends are teachers and they TOTALLY rates the forest school concept
Thanks Claire – I’m actually taking my 3 to a holiday club day there tomorrow… I shall have to give it another think. I do love it – I just worry so much and would love it if I could stay with them… but the idea of my baby exploring near a river while I’m across town at work… I can feel a panic attack coming on at the idea of it! Only slight assurance is my next door neighbour is about to start working there and I have her number… I wonder how many times I can call asking ‘Is she still safe??!!’ It does sound SO good educationally though!
Totally understand the guilt (I basically had a melt-down the first time I took my dog to doggy-daycare so can imagine it must be that multiplied!) – you just have to remember that (harsh as it sounds) you miss her more than she misses you! It sounds like she has an amazing nursery, and it’s so important to socialise her early even if you and James remain her favourite people in the world. My earliest memories are of my nursery and I LOVED it.
I was “expelled” from pre-school (I know – the only child ever in their history apparently, long story!) but it wasn’t anything like the place Mabel goes and you are absolutely right, I hope it gets to the stage she doesn’t think too much about her parents whilst she’s there at all, just what fun she’s having. x
…. I was “expelled” from Brownies. There was a power struggle in my Elves and I still think it was a huge injustice that I was labeled as the ring leader. (even though I most certainly was…)!!
I think this might warrant a post by itself! “Child Rebels and what they did next..”
😉
Jo! hahahahahaha guess what? I was booted out of girl guides! I had forgotten until you wrote this comment 🙂
I sound like the child from hell!
Um….I think I might have been (!)
My little one isn’t due until January but we’ve already started looking at nurseries as we live in the city and spaces fill up fast – you need to register your child for Primary 1 at the local school as soon as they are born, even if you live in the designated catchment area!
Just looking at nurseries fills me with guilt as I know that as soon as she’s 6 months old, she’ll be attending 5 days a week 🙁
Lynsey there are a few babies in Mabel’s class that are 5 days a week from 6/7 months. If you work and don’t have family help then what option do you have? It doesn’t stop the guilts but as so many people have said on here, a working Mama is as good a role model as a Mama that chooses to spend more time at home for longer.
Mabel’s school goes on distance – our back garden backs on to the playing field (!)
The only problem with that is that we REALLY want to move……x
Am just starting to look for child care four days a week for early next year, am being totally rubbish as I hate the thought, even though I know you have to get on waiting lists etc. I don’t think we’ve found anything as nice as your nursery sounds!
Also starting weaning next week and thinking about moving her cot – so strange that the things I struggles with most, feeding and trying to sleep with her next to me are things I am now really sorry to be moving on from – they do grow too quickly (she says thinking about all the email searches in the first 6 weeks titled “when does it get easier”….).
Only good thing was that I found ebay awesome for high chairs!
Hi Bee
I really struggled with Mabel gloving into her own room/cot – I still do and she’s been in there over a month! I know how well she sleeps with all the extra room though as she seems perfectly fine with the situation (unless she’s unwell)
Weaning isn’t easy but it is incredibly funny, Mabel had her first taste of cheese and vegetable pie today, oh my goodness – her arms were flapping all over the shop! it was needless to say, a massive hit 🙂 x
There’s always going to be a certain amount of guilt associated with nursery initially but I am the first to admit that, after the first 8 weeks of nursery, I no longer feel guilty about being a working parent. My daughter (13months) really likes nursery now – she goes 4 days a week 8-4.30pm which means I still get 3 days with her, plus mornings and evenings, and it suits us all really well. She still doesn’t sleep through so being at home with her all day is very exhausting after being up 2-3 times in the night and I find work to be much less tiring!
Her nursery is fantastic. The food isn’t organic, it “only” has a “Good” Ofsted report (not “Outstanding”, it’s not shiny and new, there’s no fancy sleep room….. but the staff are amazing – kind, loving, attentive and enthusiastic, the location is 200 yards from my office, the garden is fabulous and some of my friends’ babies go there too so I couldn’t ask for anything better.
This isn’t a view that everyone shares (it seems drilled into us that guilt is something we should all have – either guilt at staying home or guilt at not staying home) and I am sure that some mothers/parents would look at me in horror, I would’ve done the same in the first 6 months of her life when I thought I would never want to go back to work and the thought of being separated from her made me cry! For what it’s worth, I think we should be supportive of each other’s choices as parents. We’re all trying to do what’s best for our children, and surely that’s not something to feel guilty about.
Hi Sophie!
It is most definitely the staff that is the most important element in choosing a nursery (tipis and stars in the sky are lovely and all but Mabel probably couldn’t give a monkeys) as that’s what makes you feel confident she’ll be well looked after.
I’m hoping in time I won’t feel guilty either, it’s reassuring to be able to share how we do feel though, I’ve found the comments on RMS to be incredibly supportive of all choices.
I’m glad everything is suiting you so well and your daughter is enjoying her time at nursery, Mabel seems happier with every visit. Long may it continue x
Realising with hindsight that my comments sound a bit dismissive of the “mummy guilt” – it’s just my personal feeling of course! I was all geared up to feeling super guilty as generally as a rule I feel guilty/apologetic about most things…. but I’ve been surprised as anyone about how I’ve felt. Everyone is different though and it’s not bad to feel guilty! I just hope that it gets easier for you – I am sure it will as Mabel goes more and more, her nursery does sound really lovely xx
Not at all Sophie! Everyone is entitled to their opinion – it’s what builds a community. And I think you are right, we are made to feel that we should feel guilty, when if it’s good for you and your child why should it? That’s not to say you can help it (which is my particular predicament)
It was actually Sukki, Mabel’s designated carer which sealed the deal for me – loved her! x