Last weekend was our big trip to Malton to go to Flamingo Land. I would highly recommend anyone with little tots or children up to the age of about ten go as much as possible! (I wanted to go back this weekend and if I lived nearer, I would invest in season passes.) After reading some pretty bad reviews before leaving, my expectations were not very high, but I was still going to give the theme park a chance. After we went for two days, I really didn't see any first-hand examples of what the reviewers were complaining about and I thought it was full of exciting shows, fun rides, a clean park, friendly staff, and more than enough attractions to fill a two-day trip. The place at which we stayed was perfect, too! Lee did a great job planning the surprise excursion and I was happy to see Jackson having a fun time before we all went back to work and he started nursery. It was a perfect end-of-Summer trip.
The first four days of nursery were really difficult for Jackson, thus making me feel like a horrible person for leaving him every morning. The first day, he had a temperature due to teething. Then the next three mornings, he screamed and cried, refusing to eat any breakfast. When we got in the car, he sat emotionless in his carseat and stared out of the window. For the entire week, I didn't hear my little Love laugh and when we got home, he just wanted to be held until he went to bed.
When Jackson was born, The Jackson 5's ABC was playing on the radio. We had already chosen the name "Jackson" so before you get any ideas, no, we did not name our child after The Jackson 5. However, we did think that this was a weird coincidence.
On Monday, as we drove down on our street to leave Ainsdale, guess what song came on the radio? Talk about a full circle. I felt like this was a sign that everything was happening in its perfect timing and it gave me reassurance that Jackson's experience at nursery was going to be a very easy transition for us all. When I left him on the first day, he was fine and I was fine so there weren't any tears that everyone warned me about.
Those didn't come until the third day when I felt like my little baby had completely changed and he wouldn't even look at me anymore. I spoke to the nursery key worker--who never seemed too excited to see Jackson or me for some reason--and ensured that Jackson was in good hands, in a positive environment, and that she liked Jackson. Her attitude turned around after this meeting and even if she's faking her positivity, I'll take it. The other women seem to like Jackson, but those ones aren't his 'key worker' who works closely with him all day.
Thankfully, on Friday, Jackson woke up with a smile--like he used to do--and he ate his breakfast, got changed out of his diaper and dressed without any crying at all. He even talked to me on the way to nursery and was excited to play with the toys there like he was on the first day. I felt much better after this day and his key worker even said that he had a 'really good day' and seemed more settled.
Today we went to see a production of Alice in Wonderland at his nursery and he watched the entire play from beginning to end without a peep. Maybe he's studying the craft for when he becomes the next James Bond?
I hope that Jackson is happy at nursery and that one day he forgives me for all of the torment I've put him through. Feelings of betrayal or manipulation must be instinct-based because the techniques that this little 11-month-old has tried on me are a drastic contrast to the Jackson that I knew before. And who knows if his happiness that he showed on Friday is just a coping mechanism to get through his new surroundings? He doesn't know that he's going to be in a school setting for the next 17 years or so. Jeeze! The mom-guilt is terrible. All I can do is smile and say, "Look at all of the fun toys! Wow! Have a good day, Jackson!" and quickly walk out of the door while he's distracted. It still feels very unnatural to leave my baby for the majority of the day with people I still barely know. I hope it gets easier as the weeks go on.
Watching the pirate show at Flamingo Land. After we were in the park for about 15 minutes, the weather changed for the worse and it rained for the rest of the day. That didn't get us down, though! We did all of the indoor activities and visited the zoo after buying ponchos. (He looks bored, but this is his concentrating face that he has every time he watches a theatre production.)
The penguins were loving the rain
FLAMINGO Land
This sea lion could balance a bowling pin on its nose and walk around at the same time!
Zebras and giraffes living in harmony
Happy 11 months, Jackson! The second day was perfectly warm and sunny for us.
All of the giraffes (my favourite) gathered around the feeding trough
Jackson wasn't speaking to us after the sea lion show. We sat in the section where we didn't just get splashed, we got drenched. I blocked the splash from Jackson and was soaking wet for about an hour--my hair was dripping wet! Clive, the sea lion, jumped in the water and weighing about 620 pounds, he left quite the impression on us. Jackson cried and we were embarrassed because we felt like horrible parents for sitting in the line of fire.
I tried to sit in the front with Jackson, but the ride operator said that adults had to sit in the back. He's only a baby! Anyway, Jackson drove us safely around the ride and I was thankful that it was on cruise control and he didn't have to operate any pedals or gears.
On our way home from Flamingo Land (picture taken by real pirates)
Developmental updates: Jackson understands the concept of the 'high-five' and he likes to practise this skill. At the beginning stages of learning how to high-five, sometimes he would grab my hand and cover his face with my palm. But, now he knows what to do. Jackson seemed to really grow-up this week and he is talking a lot (bar the days where he was sad from the transition to nursery) with a conversational tone that has different inflections in his voice as he explains his day at nursery to us. When he is doing something new, he has always been observant, but this week we noticed how intent he is on looking at everything and everyone around him, then focusing in on the main event with wide eyes and sometimes with one eyebrow raised. He is very quiet while making his observations and then when we leave the situation or get in the car to go home, he will start talking away as if he is summarising everything he saw.
If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.
