Only one NOT at preschool - help!
I would love some support with what I am going through at the moment! My daughter just won;t settle with anyone but me. We live on a small island in the Caribbean which has many expats. My parents are here also.
She is an August baby & I have been her main carer since birth. We spend nearly every hour together (co-sleep, BF etc) & only her father is trusted to look after her other than me. I would like to say she is happy with others too but that is not so. My parents are here but even they are not that close to her. She is now 2yr 8 mths. I join in with every activity I can in order to socialise for both of us. We've been going to a community play group twice a week since she was a few months old which she is only now getting more at home in.
I have found it hard & lonely many times because so many of her contemporaries are in day care all the time & there seems limited opportunities to get togehter with others for individual support. Some weeks I am pleased to say it is a bit easier & there is a littlle more to do - we just started pottery classes for toddlers which we both love!
My concern & isolation is increasing once again because as September draws nearer nearly every single child her age who was in the community playgroup will be starting preschool. Both my partner & I feel 2-3years old is just too early to be at 'school' or away from the attention of parents for many hours & days at a time. Niether of us is keen on it & frankly my daughter would flip out if she was put in such an environment. There is a good Montessori here but they demand you pay for a full place even if your child only requires a few hours per week.
I am just seeking to find others to befriend whilst I am standing alone like this! In my ideal world we would not be the only ones holding onto our child but have many other like-minded friends with which to share child-rearing duties with.
I really do not know what to do because I feel the future extremely challenging for me to keep my daughter interested & happy in her day as well as me sane & happy too! What do others think or suggest? Has anyone delt with this before? How do you keep a 3 yr old busy all by yourself? there really is very little on this island to occupy a child: beach, beach & beach! I am wondering if it will be sufficient to hang out with 1 & 2 year olds in their houses as she is very good with younger ones - the 3 yr olds we know are a pretty rough crowd!
Any thoughts gratefully read!
Candida
She is an August baby & I have been her main carer since birth. We spend nearly every hour together (co-sleep, BF etc) & only her father is trusted to look after her other than me. I would like to say she is happy with others too but that is not so. My parents are here but even they are not that close to her. She is now 2yr 8 mths. I join in with every activity I can in order to socialise for both of us. We've been going to a community play group twice a week since she was a few months old which she is only now getting more at home in.
I have found it hard & lonely many times because so many of her contemporaries are in day care all the time & there seems limited opportunities to get togehter with others for individual support. Some weeks I am pleased to say it is a bit easier & there is a littlle more to do - we just started pottery classes for toddlers which we both love!
My concern & isolation is increasing once again because as September draws nearer nearly every single child her age who was in the community playgroup will be starting preschool. Both my partner & I feel 2-3years old is just too early to be at 'school' or away from the attention of parents for many hours & days at a time. Niether of us is keen on it & frankly my daughter would flip out if she was put in such an environment. There is a good Montessori here but they demand you pay for a full place even if your child only requires a few hours per week.
I am just seeking to find others to befriend whilst I am standing alone like this! In my ideal world we would not be the only ones holding onto our child but have many other like-minded friends with which to share child-rearing duties with.
I really do not know what to do because I feel the future extremely challenging for me to keep my daughter interested & happy in her day as well as me sane & happy too! What do others think or suggest? Has anyone delt with this before? How do you keep a 3 yr old busy all by yourself? there really is very little on this island to occupy a child: beach, beach & beach! I am wondering if it will be sufficient to hang out with 1 & 2 year olds in their houses as she is very good with younger ones - the 3 yr olds we know are a pretty rough crowd!
Any thoughts gratefully read!
Candida
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