Your vacation time and daycare

Izabella22 · May 2013

I have a week off coming up for memorial week - I'm stoked to spend it with DH & DS - but I have sh!tloads to get done. We are remodeling our house, I have a backlog of paperwork to file and we have a garden & tons of landscaping around our new addition to do. I feel torn b/c I want to spend the time w/ DS but I need to get things done... I've debated taking him for a couple of half days during the week and dropping him off just for late morning playground time, lunch & naptime to get stuff done (so like 10-2)... but I feel like that makes me a crappy mother for dropping my kid at DC on my time off. I just don't ever get any time to do these things and if he's home it won't happen. If it was a dr appt I wouldn't think twice about it but... ugh. Anyone else?

Mrs.RockyM · May 2013

Sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. I've sent both girls to daycare when i've had off. The way I see it, getting this stuff done will allow you to spend more time with your LO in the future. I'd see if you can spend a day with him, maybe arrange a playdate with a friend or go to a petting zoo, but if you need to get stuff done, don't feel bad sending him.

christinak22 · May 2013

OMG, if I did daycare, I would absolutely drop off for a few hours if I was home for a week with a big to-do list. I can't get anything done with my kids home and hire a mother's helper every once in a while to play with them so I can scrub my toilet for once. I'm so jealous of your week coming up! You're gonna get so much done AND get a ton of extra special time with your little family

danieliza1127 · May 2013

Shoot, I call those my free days, when work is closed but day care is open. I love those days and I don't feel guilty about it. Just talk to your daycare, they might prefer you do a whole day rather than part of the day, so maybe you could do 3 days that week or something.

QueSrah · May 2013

I've never had a whole week off of work for the heck of it when daycare is open, but I damn well have taken off days here and there to get stuff done alone while DD goes to daycare. I don't feel at all guilty about that - I need time to be alone sometimes, whether it's for a pedicure or to do projects that I can't get done on the weekend. You can still spend plenty of extra time with your kid (late drop offs or whatever) and still carve out time for you to do the other things you need/want to do.

aeh72 · May 2013

I look at it this way - if I can get stuff done around the house that I've been needing to get done but constantly gets put on the backburner because of work and taking care of DS in the evenings or the weekends, I would take DS to daycare in a heartbeat. In.a.heartbeat. The biggest source of stress I feel most days is wanting to spend time with DS but also feeling like I've got so much stuff to do. Knowing that I could get all that stuff done would be such a weight off my shoulders and it would be wonderful to not having hanging over my head when I am with DS or while I'm working.

So, maybe plan a couple afternoons or a couple of full days to do fun stuff with your LO while you're off and then don't think twice about using daycare the other days. Your LO will probably have much more fun at daycare than he would being home with you while you're trying to juggle your chores and spending quality time with him.

*sparky* · May 2013

I agree with all of the others but also look at it this way...he will have a lot more fun playing for a few hours at DC than watching you do paperwork and landscape. So go for it! Nothing wrong with doing this at all.

Izabella22 · May 2013

Thanks ladies - I'm relieved I'm not the only one who does this - I really do need the time to get stuff done so i'm not trying to do it while half watching him. He'll be able to help w/ the garden when he's bigger but yeah... for now. And the pedicure doesn't sound bad either... hmmm...

Ms.Wax · May 2013

danieliza1127:
Shoot, I call those my free days, when work is closed but day care is open. I love those days and I don't feel guilty about it. Just talk to your daycare, they might prefer you do a whole day rather than part of the day, so maybe you could do 3 days that week or something.

This. Totally. The word "vacation" takes on a completely new meaning when you are a parent, so if you have the opportunity to be productive, or eve (gasp) relax by sending your little one to daycare for a bit, DO IT. And enjoy. Plus, you probably have to pay for it anyway, right?

smiling76 · May 2013

danieliza1127:
Shoot, I call those my free days, when work is closed but day care is open. I love those days and I don't feel guilty about it. Just talk to your daycare, they might prefer you do a whole day rather than part of the day, so maybe you could do 3 days that week or something.

Agreed.

Don't feel mommy guilt--in fact, I bet you 100% that you will be an even happier mommy if you get these things done and therefore when you do spend time with DS (and you will)--you will not be thinking about your to-do list.

I take vacation days for myself from time to time--- just to get a million child-free errands done, doc appts, clean the house without someone behind me making a total mess, etc etc. It's a great time and I know the kids love daycare so it's fine. Do it!!

shannm · May 2013

Quality time with my LOs IS important. Much more than quantity to me. For that reason, I absolutely take LOs to daycare/preschool on days that I am home getting stuff done. I get nothing on my home to-do list done with the kids around. I certainly try but then that takes away from them because I am stressed, anxious, and distracted.

In your shoes, I would plan a day or two to be completely focused on spending time with your family and then schedule the other days at work at home days and take LO in.

laurakaz13 · May 2013

I would never feel guilty about that. DD loves daycare and you better believe I've brought her there for a few hours on days off so I could get stuff done, work out, go to the spa, have lunch with friends, etc.

proudworkingmom82 · May 2013

I always take DD to daycare during at least some of my vacation. DD is a very challenging 4.5 year old and I am a full time working mom, you gotta do what you got to do to balance work and play. Don't feel guilty.

Want a personalized experience?

Your vacation time and daycare

Re: Your vacation time and daycare

Choose Another Board

Search Boards