I've had this job for just under a year. Lately it has been a mess and is stressing me out. I am stuck because DS1 has ABA (full-time program w/after hours care) out in the boonies. It happens to be near where I work. Everything is located such that DH cannot pick him up before they close, and I could not pick him up before they close unless I work at this place or the last place I worked (which is a pile of fail), or I work from home and could sign off by 4:30 PM at the latest. In a worst case scenario, I ask my dad to pick him up. I did that today. My dad already drives him every morning b/c I would be 20 minutes late if I did it, so I REALLY hate asking for him to pick up, too. Plus it's dinnertime, worse traffic, etc. The worst part is this job entails crap that often breaks after 4 PM (there is no changing the time when all this crap happens). Often I don't know there is a problem until after 4:30 or 4:45 PM. If you don't leave by about 4:15 PM from where my parents live, forget it. You won't make it to DS1 on time. I'm constantly stressed when 5 PM rolls around and stuff is all screwed up. I was 20 minutes late yesterday picking him up.
DS2 is at a typical day care that closes at 6:30 PM. DH picks him up. If DS1 was there, I'd have DH to fall back on for pick up. Worst case, my parents could pick up. We are all very near each other so it wouldn't be a big hassle. I wish DS1 could be somewhere like that. I'm stuck in this job until DS1 is done at that place. We're looking at another year minimum, and really, I envisioned him going to a private school which would probably create a new transportation problem. It just sucks!!! I'm in programming and that's not really a big work from home field. I even thought about trying to go back to my last job. I didn't like it and it's a step backward in my field, but I got to leave on time. I don't even care what specifically I do for work anymore, I just don't want to be miserable and feel like a crappy mother because I can't even drop off my child and pick him up! There is no changing ABA therapy locations. He is doing well there and they have him doing a great feeding program which has made so much difference. Not to mention insurance has been paying and if I have go through all that again, I'll probably be institutionalized. There really aren't any other options anyway for something full time. We both have to work, end of story.
Re: Anyone else stuck in a job because of logistics?
What I do in a situation like that is rely on knowing another mom or two from DS's class who can take him as she's picking up her own child and keep him at her house until I get there. It is usually a less than an hour gap between school pick up time and the time I can realistically get there, so basically the time it takes to button up an unexpected issue at the end of a work day.
I have a mom friend who is really cool about this. I just make sure I wine and dine her really well and take her to a movie from time to time, she works for beer, lol.
Can you befriend another mom who would be able to pick up your son and keep him until you can get to her house?
I mean we are talking 20-30min, right? I'm sure someone will be open to it.
I think the issue is that the problems arise at the tail end of her work day and she has to take care of them, no matter if she came in early or didn't take lunch.