Traumatizing the kids at the YMCA

About nine (?) months ago I was taking the kids to the YMCA child care while I worked out. They were in the "baby area" for kids who could not walk yet. They did pretty well in there. But we stopped going because the kids had a series of colds, and always (seemingly) had runny noses.

I hesitantly decided to try it again because we're paying for our YMCA membership every month and we should use it! I was hesitant, though, because I worried the kids would get scared when I left them there. (This is supposed to be an age where they have a lot of separation anxiety.)

I bit the bullet and took them to the Y last Thursday afternoon. When they saw the toys they were practically pushing the door down to get into the play area. They ran right in and started playing. I didn't have a great opportunity to tell them I was leaving, but I did. I yelled out "bye bye!" and waved to them. Jackson didn't really notice and Veronica just kinda looked at me funny. (In hindsight, I maybe should have made a bigger deal out of leaving...) I stood outside the door for a few minutes watching them. Veronica looked for me a few times but didn't look upset.

So off I went. I rode the stationary bike for a while. And then like a worried mommy, went back to check on the kids. I peeked in the door, and they were right where I left them. They both seemed fine.

So I went back to the weight room and did some toning. I came back to pick them up and saw that they looked a little upset. As soon as they saw me they both yelled out and immediately started bawling and running toward me! Poor things! I was told they weren't crying a lot but were a bit upset and cried a little here and there. (Turns out the staff were on their way to get me when I came to pick them up.)

I was so sad! The kids cried and wouldn't let me go for about 10 minutes. I just sat in the lobby with them telling them it was alright.

The staff told me it would probably get worse before it gets better. But that they will get used to it and start liking it. My friend Andrea offered to bring her kids at the same time to see if it would help to have friends there at the same time. (There's already two of them!) So I guess we'll try that this week. I'm nervous though... not sure I can commit to going 2-3 times a week so they can get used to it.

We'll see how it goes, I guess...