Comments on: So back to my regular life

By: shannon

shannon — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 18:55:05 +0000

I have to warn you Dawn–and maybe Brett knows this anyway, but often when Christians claim to be “nondenominational” they mean a very specific, very evengelical and possibly fundamentalist brand of Christianity.

By: Lisa V

Lisa V — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 22:02:45 +0000

I have always felt that a good home care situation was best. But after our experiences last year with Mason’s care giver, I ‘m more comfortable with a center. I think the potential for depression is so much bigger in a home care situation. One person (usually) with no other adults to talk to, and a lot child care that can be drudgery if it’s for children you don’t love. I think it can get even the best of people. In Mason’s situation now, he still has the same ratio, and his schedule is more regimented but I see 4 women who support each other, have days off, vacations, holidays, etc. I think a better working environment leads to better workers. Even in this situation I know daycare workers are undervalued, underpaid and often frustrated. Mason loves “school.” Something that completely relieves my guilt. I stayed home for 12 years, none of my daughters were ever cared for by daycare (okay Mallory was for 2 days until I quit my job because I couldn’t bear being away from her). Now I am at a point in my life where I have to work for my sanity, and the tiny bit of money I bring home. I used to think SAHM or Dad was the only good solution for any family that could afford it. Now I’m more contextual. Like so much stuff in parenting, I’ve come to realize there is no right answer. We all seem to just do the best we can.

By: cherylc

cherylc — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:20:40 +0000

Wow, I’ve never thought about some of this stuff so explicity. My daughter was in daycare for two days a week,
and now is in for three (whole days). I noticed she was more comfortable and happy at three, in some ways,
although she missed our special day together. I figured she felt less left out. At first,when we knew she
would be going in to parttime care, we put her in a homecare situation, and it exploded horribly. She was at
the neighbors and they not only quit, but they’ve built huge fences so they don’t have to look at us
(they’re next door). You can imagine how awful this is for our daugher. We chose a “school” situation after that so that if someone seemed lovely but turned out to be somewhat mentally ill, there would be
accountability. I think parttime care, or any care, in a home daycare is a nice idea, but the
lack of accountability and oversight scares me.