Daycare and Drama Queens
My youngest has officially earned the title of Drama Queen. For the past week and a half, she throws the most glorious tantrum ever when I drop her off at daycare. Because I’m Not Daddy. And it is Daddy’s Job to drop her off. Each day, she tosses a wicked smile and informs me, “I’m gonna cry.”
At first, I thought this would only last a day or two and then she’d be fine. Six days later, we are still going through the routine. I’ve tried to say a chipper, “Bye, honey! See you later!” But this is difficult when the aforementioned child is wrapped around your leg like a barnacle. 
After much prying, I deposit her inside the door, only to have her launch her body across the threshold to prevent me from closing it. If I try to sit her down upon the floor, she throws her body backwards to give herself a concussion. Nothing like a few stitches to keep Mom from attending work. Hey, she thinks it’s worth it. 
Yes, she’s good. Meryl Streep has nothing on my girl.
I tried asking. “So what’s wrong? Why do you cry every day when I drop you off?” Her reply? “Mommy, because I NEED YOU.”
I thought about punishing her. After all, this has gone on long enough. But there’s no way to logically follow up on this until after daycare is over for the day. By then, it’s out of sight, out of mind. No connection to the problem.
Instead, I’ve decided to just deal with it for a few more days. When my husband gets back from his travel, I know we’ll be right back to the old routine where she waves goodbye to Dad and proceeds to start coloring. Kindergarten oughta be a blast.
Did your kids ever pull those sorts of games? If so, what did you do about it? If you don’t have kids, any suggestions?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 11:00 pm | Viewed 2294 times
Robyn Says:
She sounds a lot like my son- stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. With him all I could do was wait him out. If I hung on longer than he did, I’d win. It wasn’t the most pleasant of solutions; I would rather have taken away a priviledge or time out or spank or whatever.
That didn’t work with him. But he eventually got the idea that I wouldn’t quit, and then things settled down.
Melissa Mc Says:
Hugs Michelle. Not a fun place to be.
My youngest normally doesn’t do any type of day care. Throws crying fits if I try to leave her at the one at church so I can attend mom stuff. I’ve left her in tears and she’s usually fine in a few minutes or I’ve found a friend to take her instead. Which to me is not optimal since she should be able to go somewhere by herself for a couple of hours so it’s a work in progress.
This past weekend she said she would go to day care at the mountain so mommy could ski. Her choice was day care or ski school. Both days turned into crying fests. Not at drop off, though her pout could have won an award, but both times when I picked her up she’d been crying for awhile. And now we’re trying to figure out how to deal with this in the future.
Melissa Marsh Says:
Hmm. My daughter did this for awhile and then it just sort of resolved itself. It could be that she’s just taking advantage of the break in routine to make herself “heard.”
Leanna Ellis Says:
Hi! Could also just be the change. My son does not deal well with ANY change. When he was very young, he would have a fit when I changed the sheets on his crib or bed. Thank goodness he’s better now. Your hubby is out of town. Your daughter’s routine is messed up. It’s unsettling to her. All will right itself in a few days. Maybe try a reward…”if you don’t cry today then I’ll have a treat for the teacher to give you.” Just something little that you put in her bag and the teacher can give her once you’re out of sight.
Larissa Says:
I was lucky in that my son very rarely cried or had fits. When it looked like things were heading that way, I would either shoot for distractions, or give two firm choices. “You have to get dressed, but would you rather wear the blue sweater or the red T-shirt?” That kind of thing was usually enough to head things off at the pass.
Not sure how that kind of thing could work with your situation, though. Sorry!