I work. My husband works. I went on 12 weeks leave, my husband then took his leave. At some point, other than us, SOMEONE was going to have to watch our kid while we work. That’s typical for a lot of families.
Finding a daycare is the most daunting task. I had been thinking about it since day 1. I love my job and to quote Adam Sandler in the Wedding Singer “I’m a big fan of money, I like it, I use it, I have a little, I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I’d like to add more in that jar…that’s where you come in”.
So back to work I go.
Would my husband stay at home? Hey there’s an idea we didn’t think about for even HALF a second. When I told my husband we were expecting on Valentines Day 2019…he was quite literally on week 2 of his new job. He wasn’t about to say to his boss of 14 days…”thanks for the job but…uh…in 9 months I’m going to be Mr. Mom…so I’ll just hang here for a few months while you pay me and I’ll be back when the kid starts kindergarten..is that cool?”
So back to work hubby goes. Bring on the daycare search!
To over the course of 9 months we had to not only find childcare but potentially get on a wait list. I have a couple friends of mine who just found out they have a little one on the way and some of the places they checked out have a 24 month wait. 2….YEARS! That’s like getting engaged, picking out a cake, wedding venue and while you’re at it daycare for the child you may or may not have right away!
We were one of the lucky few that found a place that had an opening, it’s close by both of our workplaces so we feel like we’ve hit the childcare lottery.
But how is that daycare run? After working in childcare briefly while in college, having family and friends who worked in childcare we knew there were TONS of rules.
Places that have strict allergy protocols even no one there has any allergies (as in gluten free, dairy free, nut free…the only thing that wasn’t free was to send your kid there!), items that are banned due to a policy from 1986, and set drop off and pick up times so tight that for every minute you’re late picking up your kid they charge you an extra $20, in cash, on the spot. (Like they’re holding your kid for ransom).
Ok…so most places aren’t really like that. And rules are in place for a reason. But yet again…
…Childcare lottery.
I told my husband, who had already checked out this place and had several recommendations about it, I HAVE to check it out and I HAVE to meet with the director and the person in charge of our baby! I was not about to leave her with a stranger. From the moment I met this woman, she made me feel like I had known her my whole life and my baby was in the best care. I threw some serious curve balls at this woman! Her response to ever single question was ‘No problem’ or ‘It’s whatever you want’ with a smile that made me feel that everything was going to be fine.
Cloth diapers? No problem.
Can I visit her in the middle of the day? Many parents do!
Pre-made or empty bottles with a pitcher? It’s whatever you want.
Are you going to rock her to sleep? If that’s what she needs to fall asleep.
I notice there’s music playing for naptime…she has her own set of songs she likes. We can add them to the playlist.
How about…It’s whatever you want.
Can I text you…It’s whatever you want.
Jackpot.
Yesterday was my daughter’s ‘trial run’ at daycare. Like freshman orientation at college. You get the lay of the land, check out the campus, meet the teachers. I stopped by to see how things were going. My husband greeted me with a smile as she was being rocked to sleep for her midday nap. But she wasn’t sleepy. She was looking everywhere, taking in the new sounds, voices, toys and new friends. Smiling. Cooing. When she finally dozed off, I put her in her crib and her eyes snapped open. I wanted to scoop her up but the railings were higher than her crib at home making, I’m really short, making it awkward to pick her up with out fully waking her.
Instead I rested my hand on her chest and to my surprise, she dozed off again. Something she’s never done before. As if to say “It’s ok Mom. I’m going to be fine here. I like it”
Well kid…it’s whatever you want.