I'm not sure that we've ever asked this question in a centralized manner. Just out of curiosity, what does (or will) your childcare coverage look like (SAHM/D, daycare, family-care, in-home, nanny, a combination)?
ETA: I don't mean give the name of your center/provider or anything like that, just a general idea of the different solutions we all use.
Re: What is your childcare situation?
Currently, we "employ" a combination:
Mon & Thurs - My mom cares for the boys (through the school year, with my aunt/her sister coming over to help, most days, for a few hours, especially when she wants to take them (or just J) places).
Tues & Wed - Through the school year (since DH is a teacher), someone comes to the house (9am-3pm) to care for the boys.
Fridays - I'm off work, so I get an "extra day" to play with the boys.
All me, all the time SAHM. I'm teasing, it's not all the time... just feels like it
Also, I guess it's kind of relevant, DH works from home full time when not traveling so, if I need to do something that requires childcare, he does it. If he's traveling and I need to do stuff without the kids one of the IL's helps out - they're semi-retired with super flexible schedules.
I feel super lucky! (I don't mean b/c we don't have to use daycare - I mean because it's all free!!
Hannah
Monday - Thursday - Daycare center (7am-5pm)
Friday - I am off work.
I am hoping to ask for part-time hours (maybe Monday-Wednesday schedule) when we have #2.
I'm a SAHM/student. MIL watches her if DH is working.
If anyone uses a nanny service, I would love to hear how they are. My cousin is moving to town and looking for a nanny job. She'll be a junior at UC and is studying to become a speech therapist. Any recos of good companies for her?
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It's totally relevant. I always wonder what solutions SAHM/D's use when they need back-up (for an hour or for a full day).
We don't use a formal nanny service, since the woman who cares for the boys on Tues/Wed is the same person that we used to use when she ran an in-home daycare out of her home. She (employed by the YMCA) now runs a before school/after school program at one of the local elementary schools, so it just works out that she can care for our children (in our home) between her shifts at the elementary school. Anyway, that's way more than what you asked for; but I just didn't want you to think we used a service and I was ignoring your question.
Mon & Tues- Daycare center from 7-5
Wedn & Thurs- My mom watches DD at her house. She picks her up at 6:30 and I get to her house around 5:15-5:30.
Friday- I'm off so we get to have a Mommy and Me day at the house or out and about with some friends.
Yes! I should have added that J will start (2x(1/2day)/week) preschool, in the fall, as well.
Currently M-F 7-4:30 daycare
Come June I am off for the summer and not returning to my current position so I will be a SAHM until I find a job/new career.
M/T/H/F (during the school year): Logan goes in an in home DCP. He's been going there since he was 12 weeks old.
Wednesdays I'm off, so he's home with me. During the summer his daddy watches him. He'll start going to preschool 2 half days a week this fall (provided he ever gets potty trained).
I don't have my LO yet but this is what we will be doing
M, Th, F: day care
T, W: my mom will be watching him/her
We don't have child care yet, but I can share our plans
DH will provide Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
We're hoping to find a part-time center or in-home provider for Monday, Thursday and Friday. Am I dreaming?
No, those options exist. That said, P/T rates can be $$ if you go the center route. In our experience, it's easier to find P/T care via in-home providers; but I'm not trying to steer you one way or the other. Just some info from a "veteran."
No worries! I'm just hoping she can find a good company to work for. She had a great situation in her hometown as a nanny, and I'm hoping she can find the same here. Thanks for replying though!
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Our LO isn't here yet, but I am hoping my sister will be able to watch him/her at her house m-f from 9:30 - 5ish. If not, I will take the LO to my moms until at least a year then look in to a center that is closer to home.
My sister just had her baby March 1st and works retail part time while my mom keeps her little boy. I'm trying to talk her in to quitting her job and staying home with her baby and keeping mine. I know she would do it in a heart beat, I just need to get my BIL on board!
SAHM--DH works long hours so he rarely is available to help out, scratch that he is never available to help out haha
Honestly I take Nicholas with me everywhere- appointments, etc. In the rare times I need a sitter its usually just for a couple of hours and I have my MIL, my dad or a SIL watch him. We are really lucky to have family close by who are available to help out.
I SAH.
On Tuesdays, I pick up my BFF's son from after school activity and take him to latch key. They are not allowed to walk from school to the latch key location, which is fine with me bc I get some $$.
We use our parents for babysitting probably 1 or 2 times a month for dates/outings. MIL works only part time and was not employed for a while too so she was available when I needed to do like a gyno appt or something that I absolutely cannot take DD with me.
DH can work from home on occasion. I am hoping it becomes more frequent. I hate his commute (50 miles each way).
I just threw up in my mouth.
Tyler Anthony arrived on 9.21.09
The Chronicles of Justin and Tyler
SAHM
I'm also in a babysitting co-op with some neighbors/friends. We have fancy laminated coupons we trade back and forth. None of us use it very often, but it's great to know it's available.
I SAH, and do some freelance writing. DH has a weird schedule and Ellie has been attending Parent's Day Out one day a week during this school year. So if I need to go to an interview or something, I usually do it when DH is home or she's at PDO. Or else my mom watches her.
I just ran into my first situation last week where I needed to be somewhere while DH was at work and neither of my parents or my sister were available. My cousin's wife was able to watch her for me, thankfully.
Photo by Melissa Nicole Photography
*PCOS bio* *Cold Hands, Warm Heart*
ALL OF THIS!!
I had planned to go back to work two days a week but it just did not happen.
except my mom watches him if I need help!
I will say that Kevin does take him when he gets home for a bit so that I can take a break & the middle of the night if I'm just too worn out!
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
This is me, too. Now that DD is in preschool I do schedule a lot of things while she's there, but DS especially goes everywhere with me. If someone doesn't like it, they don't need my money.