I pretty much wrote this post in my head the day before my daughter started nursery, and I couldn’t bring myself to write it yesterday which having an emotional meltdown. So I’ve decided to write it today when I’m feeling more positive about her starting nursery and going back to work. The morning started well with us getting up just before 6, and having breakfast. I had two concerns about the morning at home before leaving the house. 1 ) How would I get myself and my daughter ready in time to leave the house at 7.30am, and 2) Would my little one need a morning nap before we left the house, as her napping schedule is first nap 1.5/2 hours after she wakes up. All went well and we managed to leave the house on time, minus the morning nap. Getting everything ready the night before is a must, her bag and my bag were packed, and the dishes done and put away. This really helped take away some of the stresses and last minute panics. I’m not sure how I’ll manage it when I need to wash and dry my hair, but we will test that on Friday. I thought that I was absolutely fine on the way there, we arrived and it was fine, until I had to hand her over to the staff. Cue tears from me and from her, it was awful, I felt awful! I felt like an awful Mum leaving her there, I knew that she would be fine, but I think it is a Mum’s right of passage to cry on their child’s first day at nursery. I made myself feel better on arriving in London by purchasing a Pret Coffee and Croissant. The day at work went without hitch, it is pretty difficult trying to find the part of your brain where WORK is stored. It took me a while to write a fairly simple email, but after a year off I am not surprised. I have to leave at 5pm every day to be back in time to pick my daughter up from nursery by 6pm. I had a terrible and stressful journey home, as the trains were all delayed from London Bridge and had I waited I knew I wouldn’t make it. So I jumped on the tube, and then Overground, and then had to run to the nursery in my sandals, in the rain and only just made it in time. If you are late, you are charged! I have never seen my daughter looking so tired……..she had only slept for 20 minutes, her eyes were red, and she looked so sad. It was awful, the image of her looking like that may stay with me for a long time. As soon as she saw me, she burst into tears, I felt awful. The care staff told me she had an ok day, but was really tired as she had only slept for 20 minutes. On the walk home, I was really worried about the next day. However today she’s had a much better day, sleeping for 50 minutes and eating nearly all her food. I’m feeling so much better about her being at nursery now, and I hope that she will be ok for the rest of the week. I’m sure that once she get used to new faces and friends, and a new routine she will love it! Tomorrow is my last day of maternity leave, and I plan to make the most of it by doing some shopping and having a lovely lunch. Claire x