Childcare 101

Ask any mother and they will say, one of the hardest parts about working outside of the home is the childcare piece.

I was more than ready last fall to start working and doing something after being home exclusively for almost five months. Don't get me wrong, I loved being home with my newborn. Loved having a summer break.

But I was ready to do something without a baby in my lap and experience some similar freedoms my husband had, such as going to the bathroom without little ones in tow.

Finding someone that you trust with your child can be hard. I feel I am pretty trusting and didn't have too hard of a time leaving H once it was time. A clear sign I was ready.

Shanna watched H this last school year and was a really good fit for us. She lived close enough that it wasn't too far from home or my work and H really enjoyed going and playing. His face always lit up when we got there and we always knew he was safe and well taken care of. (He even made projects once in awhile.)

As the school year closed we realized it was time for a change. I've got a few various commitments to the school district over the summer and much like during the school year it's not full time. It's not fair to someone who is trying to do childcare as a living to have random, part time hours.

Plus in the summer T and M are home too sometimes when I have these commitments.

J and I had some discussions on how we were going to handle things. We know of people who depend fully on family and that's great if that works for you, but for us it wouldn't work. J's mom is more than willing to help when she can, but keep in mind she's 68 years old.

Growing up there were different periods of time where my mom worked, and then different times that she was home all the time. When she worked we had a woman come to the house and take care of us and that was really nice.

I also spent a lot of time as a nanny. Both in Chicago and in Minnesota. And I absolutely loved it. I was with a family of three boys (now four!) in Minnesota for over four years and it was one of the best jobs I ever had.

So....that brought us to Babysitter Girl.

She just graduated from high school and took post secondary classes this last year. Used to work in a childcare center locally. Shares the same Christian beliefs. Has her own car. Her class schedule in the fall is three full days so she would be available to watch H two days so I could work.

Perfect, perfect, perfect...Right?

Well, we're off to a rocky start.

Yesterday she was late. Only ten minutes-late and totally ok, I still made it on time-late. Yet late.

Then when I got home three hours later, I found out that T and M had spent the morning watching Full House.

Today Babysitter Girl was twenty five minutes late.

Making me late.

Not calling to tell me she's late or what's going on.

Just late.

Late enough for T to whisper "S, don't get mad at her ok?"

No, I didn't get mad at her but I think she could tell that I wasn't pleased when I explained that T would fill her in on things and that I had to go.

She felt awful and I doubt she'll ever be late again...but I'm disappointed.

I had high hopes.

So obviously we'll stick it out and see how things keep truckin' but oh-man, did she miss something in Childcare 101 or what...don't be late, tends to make people crazy!