Comments on: Child Care Expenses http://www.healthybot.com/blog/2008/05/15/child-care-expenses/ healthy ideas, product info and comments about babies, tots and little ones Fri, 18 May 2012 21:24:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: amy http://www.healthybot.com/blog/2008/05/15/child-care-expenses/#comment-500691 amy Fri, 16 May 2008 16:33:39 +0000 http://www.healthybot.com/blog/2008/05/15/child-care-expenses/#comment-500691 Well put insight from you both! These days, child care is a big expense and no parent wants to cut corners when it comes to the care of their child. And beside the cost, there are pros and cons to going to day care and to staying home. Some parents do not have a choice in being a stay-at-home, and some still choose to go even if it's financially possible to stay home. Neither in my option, is right or wrong and is different for every parent and couple. In my case, I was able to stay home and chose to do so, but it's not for everyone and I can see why. In the beginning it can be isolating and lonely and if you have left a busy career, it can feel a bit little mundane. I've even heard some mom's feel like they lost their identity. Let's face it that first year is big transition into motherhood, so that alone rocks your world. Even a stay at home mom needs break now and again and it's nice to have family to help. But in an era where families live farther apart, this isn't always an option. Some stay-at-homes will do a day a week of daycare, or a neighborhood babysitter or in my case a mother's helper. As a new mother I wasn't up for leaving my daughter with someone I didn't know, but a young girl (13) in our neighborhood was the perfect candidate for helping occupy her attention so I could get some things done. So a few days a week she comes over and plays, paints, runs around the yard with my busy toddler and I do laundry, guiltlessly answer emails and clean up the house. You do what you need to do to make it all work, if your lucky you have family to help, but even if you have to go to an in-home daycare or center, keep the faith that most the people in it do it because they love kids and most provide a nurturing, safe environment for them. Well put insight from you both! These days, child care is a big expense and no parent wants to cut corners when it comes to the care of their child. And beside the cost, there are pros and cons to going to day care and to staying home. Some parents do not have a choice in being a stay-at-home, and some still choose to go even if it’s financially possible to stay home. Neither in my option, is right or wrong and is different for every parent and couple.

In my case, I was able to stay home and chose to do so, but it’s not for everyone and I can see why. In the beginning it can be isolating and lonely and if you have left a busy career, it can feel a bit little mundane. I’ve even heard some mom’s feel like they lost their identity. Let’s face it that first year is big transition into motherhood, so that alone rocks your world.

Even a stay at home mom needs break now and again and it’s nice to have family to help. But in an era where families live farther apart, this isn’t always an option. Some stay-at-homes will do a day a week of daycare, or a neighborhood babysitter or in my case a mother’s helper. As a new mother I wasn’t up for leaving my daughter with someone I didn’t know, but a young girl (13) in our neighborhood was the perfect candidate for helping occupy her attention so I could get some things done. So a few days a week she comes over and plays, paints, runs around the yard with my busy toddler and I do laundry, guiltlessly answer emails and clean up the house. You do what you need to do to make it all work, if your lucky you have family to help, but even if you have to go to an in-home daycare or center, keep the faith that most the people in it do it because they love kids and most provide a nurturing, safe environment for them.

]]> By: Marcy http://www.healthybot.com/blog/2008/05/15/child-care-expenses/#comment-500689 Marcy Fri, 16 May 2008 00:16:46 +0000 http://www.healthybot.com/blog/2008/05/15/child-care-expenses/#comment-500689 Great post Albert! As a new mother who has to return to work in a few days, chid care has been foremost on my mind. Expense is just the beginning of child care stress. Of course every mother wants the very best care for her child. Actually, I think most mothers would really prefer to raise their children themselves. However, as in my case, this isn't always an option. Perhaps the next best thing is family. After all, who loves a baby more than the child's father, grandparents, aunts, or uncles? A new mother can usually be confident that her (or her spouse's) family will provide a nurturing, engaging environment for her child while she is at work. Nonetheless, spouses and in-laws be warned, new mothers are extremely nervous and sad about leaving their children, so don't be offended by their hyper-vigilance and frequent "advice"/criticism. When family is unable to help with babysitting, a new mother's only recourse is commercial childcare facilities or nannies. Because they want the very best for their children, women are willing to pay exorbitant fees for high quality daycare. Often women will hand over most of their salary to afford good care for their children. In fact, after touring a few facilities, I have found that you usually get what you pay for. I visited one daycare facility near where I work taht was pretty miserable. Babies strewn everywhere, crying and unattended. By contrast, I visited another facility near my home which appeared excellent- the sitter to baby ratio was great (about 3:1) and all of the kids appeared happy and well cared for. In addition, this facility made a point of creating an engaging environment for the children- including daily "felt board" stories and other games, and a weekly, "music man" who comes to the center to sing to the children. All in all, day care is an incredibly stressful topic for new mothers who have to return to work. I anticipate a few tears when I have to leave my little one. Fortunately, I will be leaving her in the loving care of her father. Great post Albert! As a new mother who has to return to work in a few days, chid care has been foremost on my mind. Expense is just the beginning of child care stress. Of course every mother wants the very best care for her child. Actually, I think most mothers would really prefer to raise their children themselves. However, as in my case, this isn’t always an option.

Perhaps the next best thing is family. After all, who loves a baby more than the child’s father, grandparents, aunts, or uncles? A new mother can usually be confident that her (or her spouse’s) family will provide a nurturing, engaging environment for her child while she is at work. Nonetheless, spouses and in-laws be warned, new mothers are extremely nervous and sad about leaving their children, so don’t be offended by their hyper-vigilance and frequent “advice”/criticism.

When family is unable to help with babysitting, a new mother’s only recourse is commercial childcare facilities or nannies. Because they want the very best for their children, women are willing to pay exorbitant fees for high quality daycare. Often women will hand over most of their salary to afford good care for their children. In fact, after touring a few facilities, I have found that you usually get what you pay for. I visited one daycare facility near where I work taht was pretty miserable. Babies strewn everywhere, crying and unattended. By contrast, I visited another facility near my home which appeared excellent- the sitter to baby ratio was great (about 3:1) and all of the kids appeared happy and well cared for. In addition, this facility made a point of creating an engaging environment for the children- including daily “felt board” stories and other games, and a weekly, “music man” who comes to the center to sing to the children.

All in all, day care is an incredibly stressful topic for new mothers who have to return to work. I anticipate a few tears when I have to leave my little one. Fortunately, I will be leaving her in the loving care of her father.

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