Childcare - eeek! need ideas!

[emd]

Bear with me, this is going to get complicated. That's my life.

My plan next year was to do this (see image).
Two problems: Partner now wants to work full time, and childcare say they can only offer me Monday to Wednesday.

eeek!

And I don't know yet which school Sophia is going to, so I'm unsure where and when to book in for her after-school care. Might just enrol her in both schools after care programs and cancel whichever is the school we decide not to send her to.

So now I'm trying to rejig my plans for 2010 to accommodate needs within what is available. The kids don't cope with long days out more than 2-3 times a week (childcare or after school care), but Jools also doesn't cope with hanging with mum all day either - so I liked the combo of short days at pre-school and long days at childcare.
Don't want to change childcare centres either - the staff are like extended family for my kids, we've been there with mostly the same staff for over 5 years and they're very flexible and child-focused.

Wish me luck! Thank goodness I'm self-employed, at least I don't have to ask the boss before I change my working days - just hope I can find staff to work whatever days I need.

[emd]

Oh, and to make it more fun...
we have one car. We live in suburb A and have pre-school here next year, school will be in either suburb B or C, childcare is in suburb D, I work in suburb E, and he works in suburb F. The only suburbs that are walking distance from each other are suburbs D and E (childcare and my work). There is a bus from suburb A to suburb B (one of the schools), but partner is lobbying for school in suburb C which has no bus.

[Rinelle]

Good luck Emd. I hope you sort something out that works for all of you.

[emd]

Yeah, I need a wife who's willing to be a SAHM to the little kids and chauffeur for school/pre-school. :2lol

[cherish]

yeah- how good would it be to have a wife!!

hope you are able to find something workable for you emd!

[Eilleen]

Well, it sounds like you will cope regardless....but to be honest, it sounds like you guys might have to compromise on at least one of those things (change daycare, have school B, or have long days 5 days a week) to make it not as stressful.

All the best!

[Phoenix]

OMG I have been saying I need a wife for years!!

It does seem like a crazy time for decisions, I hope you come to one that your whole family can work with.
Good luck

[~kaoss~]

Good luck with it all.... It does sound a little crazy, but you can do it!

[Harmony]

What great timing! Why now?

I agree with Eilleen - a compromise will have to be reached. I hope you can get an agreement which is not too stressful for the children. When I decided to keep H at home for the rest of this year, DH was a little concerned - how would I cope? Well, I wasn't coping with things as they were, the children were all miserable - if he thought he could get her off to school without stress all around, he was welcome to try. End of argument. Now we are all very happy :)

[jodiemiller]

Gee, maybe a nanny (with own car and driver's license) wouldn't be a bad idea? Then maybe you could simplify daycare and after school care issues?

[emd]

Would be ideal if I could poach staff from the childcare centre, but I don't think any of them would leave the place. Am going to think about it some more over the weekend, I have to make a decision by Monday.

[Kathryn]

Someone poached Millie's carer at kindy earlier this year. But she was tempted by the fact she got to live in the states for a year!

I was thinking a nanny too... Or aupair? Someone to do pickups and dropoffs and help with snacks and bags and reading/homework between 3 and 5. They might even put the dinner on. Do you have any family members that could help on certain days or do you know any reliable uni students?

FDC mums can do pickups and stuff from local schools too.

[sunrisesister]

waah! hope you have found a solution Em.. I agree with Jodie - something has to give to make it work :) c xx

[emd]

Well, I have three plans to work on. If any of them work out, we'll have a solution that provides for Juliet's educational and social needs. If nothing else, this has been a good exercise in letting go of things that actually aren't that important. Hopefully by tomorrow this will all be sorted!

[mama_bel]

Phew, Em! I thought I juggled!

[emd]

Well, I've made a decision. We're going to stick with our lovely, AP-friendly childcare part time for the younger two children. And we'll change to a different pre-school that fits in with childcare. So the only downside is that she won't get to play with other kids from our area at the public pre-school. Not so bad after all. Haven't found a replacement pre-school yet, but there's enough out there that I'm sure I can find one if I make enough phone calls, even if we have to go to a private pre-school. And I get one less day of work each week, which won't be the end of the world for me.

[jodiemiller]

Glad you've come to a decision. All the best for finding a pre-school for J.

[Phoenix]

emd, one of my friends is the director of a daycare in Pearce. I could ring her and see if I could get some ideas if you would like.
PM me if you would like.

[emd]

Thanks Phoenix, I think we're sorted now. Am taking the three days I can get for both younger kids at our existing childcare centre, picked up a couple of days pre-school in Torrens for middle child, and oldest looks like she'll be at Curtin Primary. Which means I can coordinate bus stop and pre-school pick-ups on my days at home with the youngest, and get three days of work in (was hoping for four next year, but it won't work).

[Phoenix]

congratulations on sorting it out!