Matty turned 17 months yesterday. In about 7 weeks he'll start attending the day care/pre-school Brandon was in. I reminded the sitter of that yesterday, and she said, "when his last day comes around, don't tell me. Pretend like it's any other day", and her eyes were welling up. I'd love for him to stay with her for a while longer. Not only is she cheaper that what I'll be paying the school, but she takes care of him as if he were her own. He calls her "Ita", short for abuelita, because he hears her two grandchildren call her that when they visit.
It will be so much easier for us when he's at the school. I've mentioned before it's not even six blocks from the house, and my commute will definitely be shorter. I can drive straight to the metrorail station, which should be about 20 minutes, then ride the train for another 20 minutes, and avoid both road rage and wear-and-tear on my car. I'll end up spending almost all of what I'll save on gas and tolls on the tuition for the school, but in the long run it's a better choice for us.
But I know Matty will miss Ita terribly, and I will too.