what would you do?

Hard to know. If dh is unable to help out because of timing and so forth I might give it a try. If you go to church is there a nice young lady who might want to make a littel extra $$, that you trust, that might be able to help once or twice a week? If you try the Y again, I would want to know how quickly he settles down after you drop him off. If it's only a few minutes or so then he must enjoy himself somewhat and I wouldn't feel guilty. Not much help but I hope you find something that works. Kelcee and your ds are about the same age and she is saying no to a lot of things that she really doesn't mean it.

I'd try it a couple of times and see how he does. I was a mama's girl as a child and threw fits when my mother left me. She finally got a cheap watch, showed me what it would look like when it was time for her to come back for me, and let me keep it when she left. Maybe you could try a trick like that?

My recommendation is to keep trying. My daughter is almost three and is doing well at preschool and the gym child care now. That wasn't the case a year ago. She had severe separation anxiety and always wanted to be with me. She didn't even want to stay with dad. She would cry histerically when I tried to drop her off at the gym child care. I tried staying with her for a while and that didn't really seem to work either. There was one worker thankfully that took charge and would take her to play and at first she would cry for a minute, then she was fine. For the first few months if that lady wasn't there, my daughter wouldn't stay...she would cling to me like she was stuck with glue! After a while she was fine if that particular worker was not there. She transitioned to preschool well too. Don't forget that it is important for you to get not only the exercise time you need, but also the you time you need. I had to stick to that, because it has been hard for me to do things for myself and that is really the only thing I do for myself. So, keep going, find someone else your child can get comfortable with and be consistant about going. Also, keep reminded him that you will come back to pick him up when you're done. My daughter was concerened about that and always seemed reassured when we talked about the process, you play in the kids gym, I work out, the pick you up, etc. Anyway, good luck!

Sadie, I just got back from the Y -- it has been a LIFESAVER for me (working out and having babysitting). There was a "stage" where DD pitched a fit and I couldn't do it....I took a break for a couple of months and tried again and she was fine....In fact, now she asks to go there!! Could you ask the babysitter maybe to pay "special attention" to DS when he first comes? Good luck! I was saying to DH today that even if we were impoverished, I would beg my parents to pay for our membership to the Y. It's such a nice sanity check! Good luck!!!!!!!

I would do it. My son will also cry at the door but he does that when I leave him home with Daddy. But I also know that my kids are good at calming down when they are distracted. I know it is much harder to have "mommy time" when you know your kiddo is crying for you. That is hard. But Mommy Time is important. I'd at least try it and see how it goes... can you do a month to month deal?

Ajax, I hope you're right. I am going to try it tomorrow...that is, if my body will cooperate! Haven't gone since my post b/c both myself and DS have been very sick. I've been "talking it up" for the past few days and he seems ok with going, telling me he can play with Bob the Builder and that "mommy come back and get me". (I am trying to emphasize that, can you tell?) I will keep you posted...

Good luck. I'm sure it will be fine. He will get to play with Bob and tell you all about it. I know you know this, but one thing I always tell Kelcee is I will see you in a little bit and not bye bye. She seems to do better with that.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Well, we went today and he was a peach! I think it helped tremendously that #1-there weren't too many kids there and #2-he found some Thomas trains to play with. He didn't even cry when I came back to get him (which he's done in the past, a cry of relief, I think). I did only workout for 30 min and will try and add 5 min each time we go. This child though, EVERY SINGLE thing I've worried about with him, has worked out. I thought he'd never crawl but he did (at 11 mos!) I thought he'd never walk and he did. I thought he'd never talk and now he won't shut up, etc. My latest worry is going to a big boy bed but methinks that that won't be hard either... Thanks for the support!

Yeah for you both!:banana: Have next time!