tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738167594002469989.post6793136873268507321..comments2023-10-24T03:33:55.572-07:00Comments on Aerin's Cranberry Blog: Stay at home parenthood hindsightAerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142518259771067132noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738167594002469989.post-46126217238020874142010-08-24T15:16:42.655-07:002010-08-24T15:16:42.655-07:00Sorry, I should have said the kids went to prescho...Sorry, I should have said the kids went to preschool just under age 3 for both of them, not 2.Chandellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469510353021344718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738167594002469989.post-71607820937783587752010-08-24T15:15:43.794-07:002010-08-24T15:15:43.794-07:00I stayed home with our kids by default the first f...I stayed home with our kids by default the first few years. That's what was expected and for a variety of reasons I just fell into it. But I found that being home all the time, being isolated as a young mother without transportation or good support, amplified preexisting mental health issues (OCD and social anxiety, principally) and now I don't consider it healthy for me to stay home with the kids. <br /><br />So we put them in preschool as soon as they reached the appropriate age - just under 2 for both of them. Our relationship is so much better this way, stronger and more relaxed, and it also makes it easier to divide duties more equitably between my husband and me. As you said, it also eases the transition between preschool and kindergarten. My kids seem to be secure in our relationship, despite our rocky start, and haven't had any anxiety about being in school; they love their teachers and are always excited to have a school day. <br /><br />Every now and then I feel like a bad parent, especially when someone says something like, "I can't imagine sending my kids away from me so young," or something equally tactful, but then I remember the days when I considered scrubbing the baseboards with a toothbrush more important than playing Go Fish, and I know that for our individual circumstances, this is the best thing for all of us. <br /><br />You're totally right that it's best to consider specific families rather than blanket statements. It depends as much on the child as it does on the parent, too, because some children do better with a wide variety of personal influences and interaction - that is definitely true for my social butterfly son.Chandellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469510353021344718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738167594002469989.post-20358948513133667462010-08-12T21:50:38.237-07:002010-08-12T21:50:38.237-07:00True communication should be open and constant to ...True communication should be open and constant to keep relationships healthy.Freckle Face Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13324960438835000817noreply@blogger.com