October 2012 Moms

ok, here it is-my work guilt vent

ok, per my post earlier, I wanted to post this on Saturday but it's hard for me to post long posts on the weekends on mobile.

Anyway, in our case we are lucky enough to have my MIL to watch the baby while we're at work.  Although I sometimes question things she does and the "well this is how I did it" comments, I know we are lucky to have free day care.  I don't want that to be mistaken.  I struggle greatly with the fact that I feel like someone else is raising my son.  I can't be sure whether I would feel this way if he were in daycare elsewhere or not.  For example, we have a tough time with naps.  Every single weekend, it's a battle trying to get him to nap.  I've talked to my MIL about this saying I need her to try to get him on a nap schedule of some sort.  But nothing has gotten better.  Every single weekend, here I am listening to him scream for 10 mins in his crib when it's "nap time" (which I've designated as right after his mid-morning and afternoon bottles).  He will NOT go down for a nap unless it's him basically passing out while you're holding him.  I feel like at this age, he needs to start to learn when it's nap time based off of us...meaning the adults.  He should be PUT DOWN FOR A NAP, not just fall asleep once he gets tired enough.  The kicker - he naps at my MIL's.  Now, I'm not there during the day, so is she putting him down after bottles like I told her or is she waiting for him to just fall asleep and calling that putting him down for a nap and also, where is he napping?  is he napping in the pack n play like he should be.  Or is she holding him the entire time?  I ask this because we've had numerous conversations with her about holding him too much or running to pick him up with every sound he makes.  Either way, it makes me feel like he'll nap for her and not for me.  He eats better there than he does at home.  She's always saying what a great mood he's in, then we get him home and he's cranky.  Am I just a total control freak???  Why do I feel like he likes it better there than at home??  is it natural to feel like he loves her more than me??  I just want to know my son better than anyone....I want to know how to put him down for a nap....I want to feed him his favorite meals...and play his favorite games with him.  But I only have that option on the weekends.  I want to raise MY son.  :(

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Re: ok, here it is-my work guilt vent

  • ......and I'm leaving work, so had to post and run.  Will check later if I can but be back tomorrow.  Hopefully to find some words of wisdowm from working moms and also some SAHM's.  I need to get out of this funk 
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  • this is tough girl...
    I mean, I'd be frustrated too, I love how great my daycare with giving him good care but it costs A FORTUNE to send him there so...I mean...


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  • RVASC811 said:


     but if I had the option to leave her home at this age for free with my MIL, I would totally trade the money! And I don't love how my MIL takes care of her, but I know she is safe and happy with her.

    this!


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  • If he chooses to nap on his own how often would it be? It seems most babies are at two naps a day maybe three. Does he have sleep cues that you notice? If Ashley isn't tired I am not going to try and make her sleep. Have you asked your MIL around what time he is napping? Maybe she could keep a daily log for you so you can see if he has some type of a loose schedule going on. I think it's great your MIL watches him, it might not always be perfect but it's free and if he is happy, safe and being taken care of that's great.
  • PPs all have great points! Just wanted to give you a hug and say I know how you feel. My girls are with a nanny all day and they adore her. I feel like the nanny has her sh!t together most days and I don't. She seems successful at keeping them on schedule and I really struggle when I have to do it on weekends. Like @CK2MD said, you are raising your child! Communicate with MIL as much as possible and try to be happy that lo loves her so much.

     

  • Thanks everyone.  I was glad to see so many responses this morning. 

    I do understand that we're very lucky to have someone who cares about our son as much as she does to watch him...and for free no less.  Please do not misunderstand how grateful I am for that.  But when some of you say you'd trade the money for that, I think you need to walk a day in my shoes.  When I communicate how I want something done, it goes in one ear and out the other.  And she does what she wants.  Then, I need to adjust my parenting to her ways.  

    However, the point of my post was not to complain about how my MIL does things.  Not at all.  if he were in daycare I would feel the exact same way.  During the day at work, I feel a lot of guilt.  Guilt that I'm not with him, that we have too much debt for me to stay home with him, that when he's saying his first words he's going to confuse what she wants to be called, Grandmama with Mama and say Mama to him.  It KILLS me!!!  so this goes beyond being told I need to feel lucky that I have free daycare.   

    @angelacz87, THIS is what I needed to hear.  But I just need to believe that he knows who his mama is because THAT is what I'm struggling with.  It's not so much about the "raising" part or the free daycare or who's playing with him instead of me during the day.  It's the sentiment of it all.

    Am I rambling, does this even make sense at this point?  I think I need a support group.  lol

    I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I don't have any advice, since I'm just now going back to work full time ish hours, but I'm sending big hugs, and assurance that your son knows who his mama is. And he loves you more than anyone in the world, because that's what mamas are for.

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  • You absolutey did misinterpret my post.  If you read my most recent comment all the way through you will see that.  Although part of the issue is that my MIL doesn't really listen to me when I address my concerns about how I'd like things to go, that's not the whole point of the post.  I specifically stated that the guilt stems from simply not being with him and that I think I would feel this way whether he was in daycare also.  I think some are reading this as a "poor me, I don't like my free daycare".  No, it's "poor me, I wish I could say home with my son and raise him myself instead of having someone else do it for me".  and for the record, I've volunteered numerous times to pay her. 
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  • ".  No, it's "poor me, I wish I could say home with my son and raise him myself instead of having someone else do it for me".  and for the record, I've volunteered numerous times to pay her. 
    I think this is a pretty common sentiment. I feel the same way.


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  • ***sorry, that wasn't supposed to sound nasty.  I feel like it did.  I'm just trying to make sure you understand.  I just want what is best for my son...and I feel like that is me staying home with him and unfortunately it's not an option. 

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  • I feel the same way. I think it's really common. I don't want to work. I wanted to SAH for a year and it just didn't happen. And on top of it, after I pay an exhorbitant sum for daycare so I don't even feel like I am bringing home enough money. But the fact is we need that money and that's all I can do. 



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  •  

    I feel the same way. I think it's really common. I don't want to work. I wanted to SAH for a year and it just didn't happen. And on top of it, after I pay an exhorbitant sum for daycare so I don't even feel like I am bringing home enough money. But the fact is we need that money and that's all I can do. 


    So sad.  My husband has volunteered to get an overnight job and let me get a part time job instead of full time.  I'm not willing to sacrafice our family being a family and seeing each other, so here we sit.  It really is upsetting.  But I'm glad I'm not alone.
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  • lady dixneuflady dixneuf member
    edited July 2013
    you're not alone at all. AT ALL. 
    if anything you're lucky you get free childcare! I don't think anyone's discounting what you're saying, I think it's a feeling that most working moms have, actually. 
    But the free childcare...man my take home pay would DOUBLE.

    Have you looked at the working moms board? There is a post like this like, once a week.


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  • it's definitely a blessing.  I'm lucky to have someone who cares so much about him watching him and for free no less.  I just think that sometimes the "I've had 5 children, I know what I'm doing" thing is annoying and wish she listened to me more often.  I'm sure someday when I'm watching my grandchildren, my future daughter in law will say the same  ;))
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  • yeah I mean, I'd take that any day if it meant saving like $20K a year.


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  • LauraT25 said: 
    I guess I get now that you just wanted sympathy, not advice, but I thought it went without saying that we all wish we could spend more time with our babies and that we obviously sympathize.
    No, it's not like I'm looking for a pity party.  I do want advice.  I think what you said originally was helpful and maybe I should start looking to make other arrangments.  The main problem is that no matter what, I know I will feel this way.  But like PP said, I really need to remember that he knows I'm his Mama no matter what.  That's what I'm struggling with the most. 
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  • I think he's still too young to be put down at certain times honestly.  My son goes to daycare and he naps when he is sleepy.  Not at exact times every day.  Now most days it is around the same time, but that's when he shows he is sleepy.  And he naps at totally different times at home on the weekends.  But that's kinda how we parent.  Especially at home.  We just go by their cues.  
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  • GraysMama104GraysMama104 member
    edited July 2013
    LauraT25 said:
    Also, I did read your entire comment, twice, and a third time just now to make sure I wasn't missing something. Reading comprehension isn't my issue. Perhaps you just didn't express yourself very well.


    @LauraT25 Perhaps I didn't.  And perhaps you're getting just a little bit more defensive than you need to be.  No one said you had a problem with reading comprehension.

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  • RVASC811 said:
    I would probably choose to work even if I didn't need to. But I still miss my babe a lot. And that does stink. But I don't feel guilty at all. She is well cared for at her daycare, and she LOVES to be there. Her primary caregiver is a partner in raising her, and I am so grateful to have an experienced baby caregiver to help me. Obviously nobody replaces a mama, but I'm glad her circle is wide. She knows I'm her mama, and your LO does too. I do really wonder if your problems with MIL are making this more emotionally difficult for you. Also, I'm sorry if my original post came out wrong. I did not mean to be insensitive or unkind.
    oh no no no, not at all.  I didn't take it that way.  I think it definitely makes it more difficult for me.  It's harder to say that I don't like what she's doing....it's family, so you know everything is more sensitive.  I think it might be best if I talk to someone before I end up in the looney bin.  I feel like my emotions will never go back to normal after this baby.  Darn hormones!
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  • I need to start looking at it like that....partners.  aw....good luck next week!!!  its very hard but you'll get through. 
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  • No, it's "poor me, I wish I could say home with my son and raise him myself instead of having someone else do it for me".
    Gee, isn't this a shitty thing of you to say. I work full time, and I most certainly do NOT think my DCP is raising my child. You must judge us shitty moms who have to pay STRANGERS to RAISE our children for us! The HORROR.
  • lucky for you all you won't have to hear me ever complain ungratefully about my free daycare.  I got laid off today. 
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  • lucky for you all you won't have to hear me ever complain ungratefully about my free daycare.  I got laid off today. 
    Um, sorry to hear that, I really am. But please don't act like anyone attacked you or was remotely mean to you, because they didn't and they weren't. I wish you the best and hope you find a new job soon.
  • yep, already got that message
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  • yep, already got that message
    Who are you talking to and what is this supposed to mean?
  • Betty&Co said:
    yep, already got that message
    Who are you talking to and what is this supposed to mean?
    you.  in my other post I was already told that I was being too sensitive and taking things too personal.  so you basically just said exactly what everyone else already said lol
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  • lucky for you all you won't have to hear me ever complain ungratefully about my free daycare.  I got laid off today. 
    Oh, I'm so, so sorry. :( Did they at least give you severance and an explanation as to why? 
    the company is going out of business unless the find a solution Luke tomorrow
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  • Betty&Co said:
    yep, already got that message
    Who are you talking to and what is this supposed to mean?
    you.  in my other post I was already told that I was being too sensitive and taking things too personal.  so you basically just said exactly what everyone else already said lol
    Ooookay.
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