Adventures at Cubbies

I have been sporadically taking Abby to Awanas since last November-ish.  I found out about the program here in town from my friend who is taking her girls.  I have been meaning to find ways to get Abby, and Leigh too, out and about more so they can have some social interaction, so I thought that this would be a great opportunity.  As long as Abby wasn't too shy to handle it.

The first time I took her, it was a complete flop.  Her friend (really her only friend) Kylie wasn't able to make it because she was sick, but I was taking her older sister, Joy.  But Joy was in a different class from Abby.  That didn't go over well at all.  Abby threw a HUGE fit, screaming as loud as she could, and it lasted for at least a half an hour, if not longer.  I took her home, but the fit followed.  That was a discouraging introduction to Awanas.

The next week Kylie was there, and it seemed to go fine.  Abby isn't the best on listening, especially to things that she hasn't been told to do before, like stand and wait in a line.  But Kylie took her by the hand and led her where she needed to go.  I stayed long enough to see her settled fine, and then I left.  When I came back at the end of the evening, she wasn't even sitting by Kylie.  That seemed very encouraging to me. 

She didn't make it again in December, so we had to wait until the New Year for the next time.  That one went over fine again.  We missed last week because Abby cut her lip just before it was time to go.  But we went last night.  She was excited to get there and basically left me in the dust.  I couldn't get her to sign in, but that's fine.  They know she's there.  I walked outside with my friend and we stood on the church steps chatting for quite awhile when one of the other kids dads came out.  He asked if either of us were Abby's mom, and when I said yes he told me that she was very upset and crying for Mama.  So off I went inside.

Turns out she had fallen down the stairs.  I comforted her.  Once she was calmed down, she wanted to go sit in the circle with the other kids, but she wanted me with her.  So I went and we sang some songs and saw the puppet show.  She was still quite clingy, but improving bit by bit.  Then it was craft time.  They made some finger puppets, which she liked for a few minutes.  Then she saw some other kids playing and went off without me to play with them.  She gave me a wave, which I took as a good sign.  I had some errands that I had wanted to run while she was there, so I left, though not before leaving my cell number just in case.

Sure enough, a few blocks away I get a call that Abby is upset again.  So I went back and just ended up taking her home.  There wasn't that long left anyways.  She hadn't fallen again or anything, she just noticed I was gone.  I definitely should have stayed, but sometimes I can feel so tossed, not knowing what the right decision is.

I hope that this won't affect her again, that I can take her next week and she won't be scarred from the experience this week.  But I can always stay I guess.