Long story short, my family is going through a big change. My current job is in disaster management and requires me to travel for long periods of time with little notice. I just spent 7 weeks away this spring when tornadoes hit NC and it about killed me. I was offered a shift job that has no travel and I'll be working 4 12 hour shifts, followed by 4 days off. We're taking Marlowe out of daycare, and my husband will stay home while I work and then work part-time during some of my time off. We're all super excited about this change, but our biggest concern is making sure Marlowe continues to socialize with other kids. I've been looking at MMO/PMO programs, plus library story hours, swimming lessons, etc. Do any of you ladies have recommendations for an MMO/PMO (mother or parent morning out) programs in the Smyrna area or any other programs that will get us out of the house during the week? Also, any advice for a SAHD, he has NO idea what he's in for!
If everything goes according to plan, our new schedule will start in September, wish us luck!
Re: Stay at home parents
The Goddard school at 285 and South Atlanta also does part-time 2,3 or 4 days a week and half days either 9-1 or 1-5.
I haven't been but there is a music class place called The Music Class nad also a The Little Gym that some of my neighbors go too.
This is an email a friend of mine sent me when I asked her about PMOs in smyrna:
I currently have her at Bethany United Methodist. It might be a bit far for you, but it is a really easy, inexpensive program. It is $135 a month for 2 days (9-1) so you really can't beat that. They also do dropoff so that is why I say it is easy. They also take infants They are also open August-May so it is really only 2 months that you would need to find alternative care.
I have her on a waitlist at Smyrna First Baptist, and also Smyrna First United Methodist. SFUM doesn't do lunch though, and it is only 9-12, so I feel like it wouldn't give me much free time. I really liked Sm Baptist and am hoping she will get in there but they have a pretty big wait list too. They are only really open Sept-mid May though, so you would have a bigger gap for summer care.
St. Benedicts is pretty affordable and has some very flexible hours. They can do extended care, and can go 2-5 days per week. That might work out well for you since you need a bit more time. Also, St. Thomas the Apostle seems to have a pretty flexible schedule without a huge waitlist.
We are doing this Goddard part time with Gavin and love it. They have been great with helping him with his speech delay so that now we have moved from hardly talking at all to just needing help with pronounciation. Big difference. If you end up going here please let me know so I can say hello! As for helping your DH out, my only advice is to come up with a schedule and stick to it. The days that I am home suck if I don't have a plan! By the time DH gets home I am completely burned out and frustrated. But if I have a plan and if it includes getting out of the house for even an hour, our day goes so much better! Good luck- sounds exciting!
Being a SAHD can be very tough. DH is a freelance writer/producer so DD is in daycare 3 half days a week and the rest of the time he's on Daddy duty unless he has a big workload.
We have lots of SAHM friends so because they already knew us, DH can hang with them sometimes. Yesterday he took DD to the pool with a friend and her 2 kids. But generally when DD goes to stuff where there are only moms, he's the odd one out. He doesn't mind, and totally understands why moms don't go out of their way to make friends - he would feel weird about it too "hey baby I made a new friend today, Sheila" - it would be weird!
So it can be quite more difficult and isolating for SAHDs, because they don't make other SAH friends the same way moms bond. So perhaps make the rounds of your current SAHM friends and ask them to invite DH to join them sometimes.
When DH is home with DD, he goes to the gym. I think it helps keep him sane and DD has fun playing in the play area. We are BIG fans of The Music Class I would recommend that bigtime. Storytime at the local library is great, and even at local bookstores. DD also goes to a ballet class and that's awesome - and there are Dads there too!
DMoney will be a kickass big sister