Yesterday after our disppointing sonogram Stan and I explored the world of local daycares. I knew that having a baby would be expensive with the diapers, wipes, toys, etc. but never did I realize that paying for daycare would be like paying for a second mortgage. Everywhere was well over a thousand dollars a month! We looked into several daycares in the area of our home and then when we got back to the car each time we would discuss the pros and cons of each and at the very end we ranked them. Our favorite was by far the Goddard School. We both were so impressed with the quality of staff, the excellent facility, and their outside areas. We loved seeing all the cute kids too. They all seemed so happy hanging out with their friends and flashing these big smiles. At Goddard they have programs where they try to get children to appreciate art and music etc. While we were there two kid were listening to a music tape and then one of the kids says to the other "listen to this part, it's really rockin'" Stan and I nearly died laughing it was so cute! I said to Stan later that was a boy after his own heart. We still have one facility left to visit and then we are going to have to make a really tough decision.
I am very certain that I would feel really comfortable with my kid at Goddard but the problem arises how will we be able to afford that kind of cost? I was talking to one of the doctors at my work about it since she has been giving me really great daycare advice and she said that was exactly what she went through.
The hard part in everything is weighing out whether we are making more money with me employed or if we would actually be saving money if I stayed home. What further complicates things is that I may not be making the big bucks now but the promotions in the government are yearly so I have the potential to make much more in the future. In addition you can't beat the government benefits. Not only do we have top of the line health insurance but we also have an amazing retirement plan. Not to mention the sick leave and annual leave--all the holidays off! Then here's the icing on the cake, as it stands now I am incredibly happy with my job. I love the people I work with and have made some awesome friends there. I have impressed people and have recieved a lot of accolades. I feel that I found a work environment that I not only want to succeed in but enjoy the work that I am doing. I always remember that the research we are listening to and eventually funding improves the quality of life for millions of people. Our particular research helps those people with addictive behaviors to improve their lives and potentially be able to beat the habit that controls them. I love how mentally stimulating the job is. I go to work and I get the unique opportunity to learn about the cutting edge theories on addictive behaviors as the scientists explore why people are attracted to the substances or whatever it is they are addicted to. It is a small job in the grander scheme of things but it facilitates these discoveries to happen. So now I have to weigh all of this against the fact that staying at home with the baby would award me the opportunity to share in the early parts of my child's life.
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3 comments:
Hang in there Grace. I know that this is a tough decision. It sounds like you and Stan are going to find the best day care and maybe the grandparents could help out?
Why doesn't Stan stay home with the baby? It sounds like your job is more satisfying and has better benefits. Plus, couldn't he still do some work, like part time, from home? It seems like your mom would help smooth the way for that if it is at all possible. That way you get the best of both worlds. Don't forget to consider the sick baby factor, kids in daycares get sick more, then you have to miss work and pay for a doctor visit. Plus, if you guys get a daycare far from where you both work, you will be a long way from the baby if there are any problems... Just a few more things to think about.
I thought about the distance from work but the thing is it will really mess the baby up to be in a car for like 3 hours everyday. And John, Maggie, and her parents will be really close by so if there is an emergency I may not be the first on the scene but I will know there will be someone there who can help.
I am not too worried about the sick baby factor since the government gives wonderful leave and between Stan and I we can share that responsibilty.
In terms of Stan staying home he actually makes way more than I do so we would be taking too much of a paycut, and he can't work from home because he never really gets himself to sit down and really work. He needs to be in an office setting to get stuff done which I can't blame him everytime I tried to work from home I ended up doing everything but so it doesn't really work. We have considered a lot of things but where it has boiled down to is either me quitting and staying home with the baby which would be awesome or me staying and then us trying to afford daycare which would also be cool. I have never been that into daycare but it really builds children's social skills and when they are really young they learn from the older kids so development seems to be more rapid. Although nothing beats spending time with your kids. In the end I think it will boil down to whatever the numbers hold we will do you know
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