March 30, 2001 - Friday
The first week of our new routine worked out well, I think. Aside from not taking very long naps in the new and unfamiliar daycare setting, Harry seemed to have no trouble switching to a new place, thanks no doubt to new toys and two small dogs. Yet, Harry also won praise from the new provider for his easy going, self-reliance. The first week for me working from home also seemed to work out well. I'm not sure yet about our ultimate best schedule. For the first four days of the week, I was with Harry for two hours in the morning before bringing him up to daycare and that can be a long time in one place for an ambitiously mobile boy. By Wednesday and then again on Thursday I found a couple errands to attend to around town and Harry and I made the circuit. Then for today, I had agreed with the daycare that I'd bring him and pick him up an hour early. And, that may turn into the more regular schedule. Somehow it seems like an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon gives us more options for quality time as opposed to time to get bored with dad.

On the other hand, the true quality-time gems of the week were during those occasionally long stretches in the morning. I'm not sure quite how it happened, or why Harry let it, but four of the five mornings this week, Harry laid on my chest for several minutes just relaxing. On Monday, he actually took a nap on my chest, no doubt from the lost rest and ailment over the weekend. But, the other mornings he did not sleep, but rather just lay there resting quietly. On each occasion he had showed some sign of fatigue, so I picked him up and lay down on the couch to read a book. He never complained and even just hung out for 5-10 minutes after reading. It's almost a habit worth pursuing, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't last .


Comments, opinions?