Daycare Issues

J.,

I know this situation all too well! I have an 11-year-old who is now thankfully in school ands I have always had a hard time keeping a full time job. I put my 2-year-old in Montessori School (where she has only come home sick once) and have started working as a consultant so I can make my own hours and leave when needed. The school she is attending is very clean, with 2 sinks in the room and they encourage hand washing regularly. However, it is more expensive than day care, but she also learns Spanish and it is learning intensive. (My pay pretty much pays for the school + gas & food).

I understand the bind you are in and wish I could recommend a place to send your children. However, whenever other children are involved (and other mothers who cannot stay home with sick children & send them to daycare anyway), you will always be in this bind. The only suggestion I can offer is to rearrange your finances and stay home with your children. Because, really, at the base of it all, money is not as important as time with your children. AND you will form a bond, teach your child what you want them to learn, and be there for all their firsts.

Good luck!

S.

I too am a full time working mom. My 15 month old son goes to an in-home daycare. He was a preemie so it was important to keep him out of a large daycare. You may want to look into this. Usually it is difficult to find someone, I got a reference from a co-worker. My co-worker's child is grown and had a friend with a daycare, so you never know where you can get a lead. The newspaper occasionally has listing, they are typically out west. We have been very pleased with our arrangements and I have only had to pick my son up once due to illness, and he was the sick one. In home sitters usually have a strict policy, but kids don't get sick very often. Plus, they get more attention and bond with one caregiver because there isn't turnover.

Good luck, I hope everything works out.

I feel your pain! This happened to me so many times over the last few years. Have you asked your employer if you can work from home on days that you have a sick baby? This is definitely a tough age and you are getting ready to hit the sick season. My old daycare was extremely strict, the new one...not as much.
I was able to set myself up at home while my kid was sick. I promised to be by the phone and available via email at all times. Many people do this and it works! You just have to deliver on your promises and the employer must be fexible. Good luck!

I am starting to watch a couple of children in my home I was a preschool teacher in FL so I have experience on top of being a mother of 2. I am CPR and first aid certified. i live in Halls. My number is ###-###-#### if you are interested.

M.

I know what you mean. When I went back to work after my daughter was 4 mos old, I felt like I was constantly missing work because she was sick. But, she was in a small in-home daycare and if she was sick, so was everyone else. So, I'd rather have her home with me until everyone got better. I am a Mary Kay Sales Director but at that time I was a Mary Kay consultant and the extra money from that helped. I didn't lose money because I had sick/comp time built up at my day job; but if my husband missed work he lost money because he used his time for paternity leave.
If your kid is sick, they are more susceptible to getting sicker, so having them out of daycare is better than having them at the doctor's office or in the hospital.