What do I do?

Don’t let this pre-dance photo fool you. When we got to class this time Eleanor CLUNG to me like her life depended on it. She cried and kept saying “I don’t want to go. Don’t leaaaave me”. *sob* 

My head was spinning. What do I do? Do I make her stay? Do I take her out and just try again next week? I felt eyes on us and started to get hot. I watch her through the gallery window, looking at me with tears steaming down her face. Another mom standing next to me says “I’m sorry, these moments are always hardest on us”. 

I stayed by the window, while one of the teachers held her in her lap. Every time Eleanor looked at me I forced a smile, trying to reassure her that it was all okay, when all I really wanted to do was leave with her and go home. After 30 looooong minutes, she started to calm herself. She watched as the other girls danced around to music. I saw her smile. After a few minutes the teacher got her up and she was dancing alongside the other girls. Laughing. Like a completely new kid. 

On the way home we talked about how she felt. She said "I was scared and when you left the room that made me sad." I get it baby girl. That makes sense, I say.

Knowing when to push your kid out of their comfort zone vs letting them go at their own pace is tricky. Yesterday staying seemed to be what she needed, but man it was so hard. For ME. If you have any advice, I'm all ears. Other than sending Jeffrey next week of course.... 😂🙈