This visit is what I expected the first time around. David balked as we were about to cross the threshold, but then he discovered there was a hook with his name on it. (He can actually only recognize D, but we got to the right place.) He put his water bottle with all the others and got down to playing with the new trains. For the next hour and a half, he played reasonably well with others, happily by himself, and only checked in with me occasionally. He was particularly thrilled to bring his lunch box out for snack time. I know he will be upset on Monday when I actually leave, but I think he feels much more settled.

The classroom feels somewhat more settled than my last visit. I had gone straight to the director and voiced my concerns. She definitely heard me and did something about it. The former head teacher hung around a bit; the associate stepped up and seemed much more in charge than last time.

However, I can still very much feel the void. One thing I love about this school is the experience and competence all the staff exude. Unlike most daycares which often have monthly turnover (I mean that literally having been at one), these folks have been in their positions 10 years or more. They are relaxed in themselves and love what they do. I miss that. Plus, the lead teacher took her bunnies when she left the room. The bunnies were a major draw!