[cltbabs]

wow..how overwhelming. I wasn't sure when to start researching b/c I don't have any idea when the baby will come home. Isn't it hard to go to these centers and have no idea how old the child will be or what month they will be home?

Thanks!!
Bren

[mmehegartner]

I too seem to be having issues when it comes to returning to work. I have been home with our daughter since the 1st of January and I am due to go back to work in 2 weeks. I have daycare all lined up, but find myself crying and very depressed knowing that she will be with another woman all day long.

My husband and I are trying to figure some things out, and see if there is anyway I can stay home with her full time. I knew it would be a hard decision, but I can not believe the feelings I am having with regards to leaving her.

Good luck with your choice

Melissa

[Mindybeth6]

Although we are not a dual-income household as of yet...I am finishing up my degree in special education and therefore will be going back to college...which is my student teaching since I am at the end which of course if full time. I am planning on taking all of the next school year off. That is only because I have no idea when the process will end and we will be home together so I have to take it all off. I can't just up and leave in the middle of a semester. SO it's hard to tell but we are just getting ready to finish up our homestudy at the end of this month...maybe have a baby next winter? Thats what I am kind of thnking and then I will be back to school In september of 07. I have been a SAHM to our bio son and it has been so wonderful. I dread the day I start working. HAH. Even though the money will be sooooooooo nice.
Mindy

[beachdreams]

In my area I could not go on a waiting list without my child being at home. The reason is they needed her age to know when space became available where she needed to be placed. There were 4 daycares that I liked and only one had space available when we brought her home.

Now, I am yanking her out of that one and putting her in my top choice one on May 29th because a spot opened up and I have been very unhappy with the one she is in now. They are not neglecting her, just not caring for her the way we discussed and the way I want her cared for. My top choice is extremely popular. Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for others, I knew someone who is good friends with the director so she kind of got a shove forward on the list.

When they called to say they had an opening coming available, we literally flew there and put our deposit down that moment in order to hold that spot. The only reason it came available is because someone was being transferred. I can not wait for her to be there.

I took off 8 weeks and hubby took of 3 weeks. He is a teacher and sadly could not take that much time off. I cried buckets the day we took her in. We transitioned her by letting her go 3 days the first week (I started work mid week). Then the following week had President's Day so I was off one day so she went 4 days and then finally she went 5 days.

She was so exhausted the first week she was there, that I was so unhappy. Now she is happy to go (even though I dislike the place).

I live for weekends more than I ever have before in my life.

We started researching daycares from the moment we received her referral and then started calling back when we got in PGN. Once we got pink and could estimate her arrival (no GCBC thank goodness) we called to have her placed on the waiting lists.

[jcelestino]

Originally Posted by mmehegartner

I too seem to be having issues when it comes to returning to work. I have been home with our daughter since the 1st of January and I am due to go back to work in 2 weeks. I have daycare all lined up, but find myself crying and very depressed knowing that she will be with another woman all day long.

My husband and I are trying to figure some things out, and see if there is anyway I can stay home with her full time. I knew it would be a hard decision, but I can not believe the feelings I am having with regards to leaving her.

Good luck with your choice

Melissa

Melissa,
I was the same way when I was a couple of weeks from returning to work. After a couple of weeks in a center that made her unhappy, I signed her up at a different place. Once we changed her, everything improved greatly and I adjusted to working. It was a lot easier once I felt she was getting the care she needed and deserved. Good luck to you!

[csw]

Hi
I had to spend so much time out of the country with our son's adoption, that I had to go back to work 4 days after we got home..went back full time..but my sister ran a homebased daycare and at least he was with family..though at age 2 he got kicked out of my own sisters daycare (he is/was a handfull) and we put him into a great place for kids age 2-5..small, lots of outdoor space...he would cry at times, esp the first year..'dont go' it would break our hearts..but then when we would go to pick him up he would not want to leave!

Fast forward to our daughters adoption 12 years later..
Never in a million years did I think I would have to quit my job totally...she was up 8-12x at night the first 6 months with minimal 5-10 min naps..my boss let me have part time of 24 hours a week, after I had been off for 4 months FMLA...but the 24 hours was only temporary..after 3 months she cancelled it and said full time (48 hours a week plus) or nothing..our daughter was still up alot at night..and had just had a horrendous vaccine reaction..needing specialists, speech therapists etc..so I had to quit...

Here it is 1 year later...started going back just 12 hours a week..kind of like being an agency nurse..but working for 1 hospital..no benefits at all...I do Friday nights, or Sat/Sun days..so she doesn't need daycare yet..
The money isn't bad..but like I said..no benefits at all..

I am still deciding if I want to put her in a classroom or daycare at age 3 in the fall...she still won't even get off my lap when we are out in playgroups or activities..
I tell her when she is a big girl she will go to school by herself and she says "No! Mommy Play Me!!!" I just don't know what to do..we need the money..her specialists and medications are running us around $800 a month..I guess I will have to just continue with the weekends..I am also starting graduate school...on-line..
We'll see!!

[Waiting4Bryan]

I went back to work 5 months after my pick up trip. I started looking at daycares around the 3rd month of my leave. I interviewed and visited about 25 facilties. Made appointments and intentionally showed up a half hour early (you can learn a lot by doing that). I ended up selecting a place that is a family daycare center. My son immediately reached out to the provider and did so on three occassions. It turns out his instincts were on target. He is doing great. Comes home happy and relaxed and I feel 100% confident that he is being very well cared for. There is also a Guatemalan aide at the center who is particularly fond of Bryan. His adjustment has been a piece of cake.

Good luck!

[huganangel]

As a single mom, I had no choice but to go back to work. My employer (I'm a public school teacher) did not allow me to use any of my over 100 accrued sick days to be with my baby because I was not "sick" and had not given birth. Therefore, I could only afford to take 5 weeks off unpaid before going back to work. I was lucky in that my mom could take care of my daughter at my home until I found daycare. I was also lucky enough to find an old friend who offered daycare in her home and she had an opening for an under- 2- year-old. I think it was tougher on me than on my daughter. She loves daycare, I hated leaving her. There have been no problems/issues except that she comes down with every cold that comes by. However, my ped said that she either gets them all now or gets them all when she starts school. He feels it is better for her to get them now so she can be healthier when she is in school. I hope it works out that way! She learns a LOT at daycare and we are extremely close (she is 2 now) because I devote all of my home time to her. If you don't know of any private daycare providers, I would start looking about 2 months before you think you'll need it. That way, you have the time to visit some and talk to references. Good luck!