Goodbye to Just Us Kids
Yesterday was a sad day. Tomorrow is an exciting one. That is because yesterday was Ellis' last day at Just Us Kids, the day care she has attended since June of 2008. We have loved this daycare. It has a great structure and is 2 blocks from the National Mall, where the kids spend their summers going to the Smithsonian museums and the Sculpture Garden. You can't beat that.
We have met amazing kids. The kids who have spent the last 3 years with Ellis are sweet and have a great chemistry together. They play well, support one another and are very loving, giving hugs all the time. For the record, the gang was Lucas (who was a part of the Great Escape with Ellis in the infant room), Emmi, Claire, Sophie, Jack (who danced with Ellis at Eastern Market last year), Orin, Ronan, Daphne, Casey, Nico, Lane and Caroline. For a time, Ellis hung out with the older kids too: Betty, Max, Benjamin, Marin, Henry and Sasha. Here are the kids greeting Ellis when I dropped her off during their morning walk by the Capitol.
Here is Ellis and Claire in the "housekeeping" area. It is a place for dress up and pretending to cook. But it is also a place for kids to go when they need to be separated from the rest of the kids.
And snack time...
We have also met amazing care-givers. We met Pam, Mia and Sumaira, who run a wonderful institution and who the kids love. We met Latosha, who was Ellis' favorite person in the infant room, has remained a friend of mine and is currently taking care of Anders (who she called Whopper). We met Chandra, who was the head of the toddler room and amazing at teaching us as parents how to help Ellis learn to walk, drink from a cup, use a potty, etc. We met Edythe, Annie, Nun, Elesha and Ella, who are just sweet ladies that the kids (and adults) love being around.
And we met the incredible team in the panda room (2-3 year olds). Ingrid runs the room and runs it like a preschool, which has challenged Ellis and helped her get ready for her next adventure. Shirley calls my kids her grandkids and I swear we'd take her home with us if we could get away with it. And Latoya and Stacy have been incredible supportive and encouraging of us and Ellis -- both telling us that Ellis belonged in preschool because she is so smart and needs a challenge. That is actually the thing that pushed me to make the jump.
So I'll admit it: I cried on the last day. It was so hard to leave and know that I wouldn't see them again unless I made a special trip and that Anders will not get this experience. But everyone was so kind and excited about Ellis going to school. Shirley told me to be strong and not let Ellis see me upset (she was so right, so I ran out before Ellis saw me). Everyone made us promise to bring the kids by for visits and keep them up to date on everything the kids do. You bet we will. I can't go too long without seeing those wonderful people.
We have met amazing kids. The kids who have spent the last 3 years with Ellis are sweet and have a great chemistry together. They play well, support one another and are very loving, giving hugs all the time. For the record, the gang was Lucas (who was a part of the Great Escape with Ellis in the infant room), Emmi, Claire, Sophie, Jack (who danced with Ellis at Eastern Market last year), Orin, Ronan, Daphne, Casey, Nico, Lane and Caroline. For a time, Ellis hung out with the older kids too: Betty, Max, Benjamin, Marin, Henry and Sasha. Here are the kids greeting Ellis when I dropped her off during their morning walk by the Capitol.
Here is Ellis and Claire in the "housekeeping" area. It is a place for dress up and pretending to cook. But it is also a place for kids to go when they need to be separated from the rest of the kids.
And snack time...
We have also met amazing care-givers. We met Pam, Mia and Sumaira, who run a wonderful institution and who the kids love. We met Latosha, who was Ellis' favorite person in the infant room, has remained a friend of mine and is currently taking care of Anders (who she called Whopper). We met Chandra, who was the head of the toddler room and amazing at teaching us as parents how to help Ellis learn to walk, drink from a cup, use a potty, etc. We met Edythe, Annie, Nun, Elesha and Ella, who are just sweet ladies that the kids (and adults) love being around.
And we met the incredible team in the panda room (2-3 year olds). Ingrid runs the room and runs it like a preschool, which has challenged Ellis and helped her get ready for her next adventure. Shirley calls my kids her grandkids and I swear we'd take her home with us if we could get away with it. And Latoya and Stacy have been incredible supportive and encouraging of us and Ellis -- both telling us that Ellis belonged in preschool because she is so smart and needs a challenge. That is actually the thing that pushed me to make the jump.
So I'll admit it: I cried on the last day. It was so hard to leave and know that I wouldn't see them again unless I made a special trip and that Anders will not get this experience. But everyone was so kind and excited about Ellis going to school. Shirley told me to be strong and not let Ellis see me upset (she was so right, so I ran out before Ellis saw me). Everyone made us promise to bring the kids by for visits and keep them up to date on everything the kids do. You bet we will. I can't go too long without seeing those wonderful people.
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