u/jxde-7503

I’m a first-year lead teacher in a toddler classroom (1-year-olds) and could use some advice. I have a child who is still breastfed. He eats table food well and will drink water from a cup, but he refuses to drink his breast milk from a cup while he’s at daycare. Throughout the day, he’s on and off crying and screaming until someone picks him up. Once he’s being held, he immediately starts pulling at bra straps and trying to pull shirts down, and it’s pretty obvious he’s looking to nurse for comfort. He does the same thing to his mom at pickup and immediately tries to nurse. Of course, we can’t nurse him at daycare, so we’re trying to figure out the best way to handle it. We comfort him, redirect him, and continue offering his breast milk in a cup, but he refuses it. Has anyone dealt with this before? Did the child eventually adjust, or was there something that helped? I’m looking for advice from other teachers or parents who’ve been through a similar situation.

Edit: I don’t necessarily care that he doesn’t drink it, he drinks plenty of water. I just hate having to waste breastmilk. I know how important that is to moms.

My heart is so full. 🥹

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d have my own classroom one day, I probably would’ve smiled and hoped you were right. Today, that dream became a reality.

I’m not going to pretend today was perfect because it definitely wasn’t. It was busy, eventful, and there were moments where I had to figure things out as I went. But that’s part of learning, and I know every day won’t look the same. I’m already learning so much, and it’s only day one.

Even with all the chaos, there were so many little moments that reminded me why I chose this career. The laughs, the conversations, the silly toddler moments, and seeing their little personalities already starting to shine made my heart so happy.

My favorite part of the day was when it was time for me to leave. One by one, my toddlers came over to give me hugs goodbye. Those sweet little hugs meant more to me than they’ll ever know. After such an eventful day, it was the perfect reminder that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

I’m so thankful for this opportunity and for the chance to be a part of these little ones’ lives. I can’t wait to watch them learn new things, grow more confident, celebrate milestones, and make so many memories together this year. I know there will be hard days, messy days, and exhausting days, but I also know there will be so many moments that make it all worth it.

Here’s to my first year as a Lead Teacher. I have a feeling it’s going to be a pretty special one. 💕

I’m having all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed soon, and I have severe anxiety about the procedure. I know I need to have it done because one of my wisdom teeth is infected, broken below the gum, and has been causing me a lot of pain.
For those of you who had your wisdom teeth removed with local anesthesia, what was the actual process like? What did you feel during the procedure? Did you use laughing gas along with the local anesthetic? If you had both, did it help with your anxiety? My biggest fear is being awake during the procedure. I know I’ll probably feel pressure and hear noises, but I’d really like to hear what it was actually like from people who’ve been through it. How was your recovery? How long did the pain and swelling last? Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand or anything that made recovery easier? I’d really appreciate hearing honest experiences both the good and the challenging. I know I have to get this done, and hearing from others who have been through it helps calm my nerves. ❤️

A couple days ago I made a post asking for advice on how to overcome my embarrassment with singing, dancing, and being silly with the kids. Today I had a huge breakthrough. I read six books out loud in front of another teacher. I even sang the parts in the Pete the Cat books instead of skipping them, and later I sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” with the kids too. The kids were so engaged and loved how interactive story time was. And the thing I was most worried about, doing it all in front of another adult ended up being completely fine. I know I still have room to grow, but today gave me a lot more confidence. Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on my last post and encourage me. Your advice really helped me take that first step. ❤️

I wanted to see if anyone else in childcare has experienced this or has any advice. I’ve worked in childcare for a while now, and I genuinely love interacting with the kids. I talk with them, play with them, cuddle and comfort them, and I’m very involved throughout the day. I can read books aloud to the children with no problem, but as soon as a book involves singing, special character voices, or acting things out, I completely freeze. The one thing I really struggle with is singing, dancing, and acting silly during things like music time or circle time. I know the kids enjoy it, and I know no one expects me to be a great singer or performer, but I get so embarrassed. I’m not worried about the kids judging me, I’m worried about the adults around me. I always feel like my coworkers are going to think I look ridiculous, even though they’ve never actually given me a reason to think that. Has anyone else dealt with this? If so, how did you get past it? I really want to become more comfortable because I know it’s important for the children, but I just freeze when it’s time to sing, dance, or act out things like animal cards.
I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share.

I’ve been going back and forth on whether it’s even worth walking at commencement for my ECE TCC in December.
Part of me is so proud. I didn’t graduate high school on time. I graduated in 2024, three years after my class, and now I’m only four weeks away from finishing my classes. I’m even thinking about continuing for my associate’s degree so I can become a Pre-K teacher someday.
But another part of me feels like it’s “just” a TCC and that I’m behind everyone else my age. I’m 22, and it seems like so many people I know have already finished college while I’m just getting started.
On top of that, the ceremony only allows four guests. I’ve already invited the people closest to me, and now other family members want to come. It makes me feel guilty, especially because I didn’t even know there was going to be a commencement ceremony until about a week ago.
I guess I’m just wondering…if you were in my shoes, would you walk?
Deep down I know I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but sometimes it’s hard not to compare myself to everyone else.
Thank you in advance.

Hi! I have a 22.2 lb Papillon Dachshund mix, and my vet said she needs to lose 4 pounds to get to a healthier weight. Her weight is starting to affect her joints, so I really want to stay on top of it. What would be a good exercise routine for her? She already goes to daycare twice a week for around 6.5 hours each day. I was thinking about adding two 15 minute walks on her non daycare days, but I’m not sure if that’s too much or not enough. Do dogs need rest days? I was considering making Saturday and Sunday rest days. She also has luxating patella in her back legs, so I worry about overdoing exercise and putting too much strain on her joints.
\*I do not need any advice on nutrition I have that down.☺️\*
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi! I have a 22.2 lb Papillon Dachshund mix, and my vet said she needs to lose 4 pounds to get to a healthier weight. Her weight is starting to affect her joints, so I really want to stay on top of it. What would be a good exercise routine for her? She already goes to daycare twice a week for around 6.5 hours each day. I was thinking about adding two 15 minute walks on her non daycare days, but I’m not sure if that’s too much or not enough. Do dogs need rest days? I was considering making Saturday and Sunday rest days. She also has luxating patella in her back legs, so I worry about overdoing exercise and putting too much strain on her joints.
*I do not need any advice on nutrition I have that down.☺️*
Thanks in advance for any advice!