The Quest for Child Care

Since I went back to work from my maternity leave, my mother has been living with us and acting as an in-home nanny of sorts for Paige. This situation has worked out extremely well for us. We pay Mom to cover our child care needs while we are at work and we know the peanut is being cared for by someone that loves her and is just as interested in her well-being as we are.

But...(there's always a but, isn't there?).

Now that Paige has hit toddler-hood, we think her horizons need to be expanded. She needs more socialization beyond what she can get with my Mommy Group - since I work outside of the home, the activities we are able to participate in are obviously limited. She also needs to be exposed to more structure both in a routine sense as well as a learning sense. Sure, Todd and I read to her and try to teach her things - for example, she most definitely knows what her sock and shoes are (and she can say both)...but ask her to point out something that is red or to find the star in the picture and you get a blank look. You see what I'm getting at? Also, I'm afraid that she could possibly be the only kid to end up in kindergarten asking if anyone else caught last night's episode of Law & Order. (Granny's addiction - not mine.)

What started as a conversation a month or two ago finally became reality when I decided to take the bull by the horns and start researching daycare options in our area. And I discovered quickly that "Toto, we aren't in McCurtain County anymore". There's so much more to think about than I could have imagined. Where I grew up, I only knew of one, or maybe two daycares. Anyone who needed child care either left their kiddo with family, used one of those facilities or their kids were latchkey kids.

The things I have to think about now -

1) Finding a facility that accepts children on a part-time basis. Granny isn't going anywhere after all so there's no point in putting Paige into daycare on a full-time basis. We just want to give her some exposure. But at any rate, not all centers will accept part-timers.

2) Finding a facility that accepts children in her age range. There are TONS of centers as well as Mom's Day Out opportunities in the area. Unfortunately, many of them don't accept kids under 18 months - or in some cases under 24 months.

3) Finding a facility that has an opening in the correct age group (assuming that you've managed to make it past obstacle 1 and 2 above). Yep, one of my favorite places that I've visited so far has a wait list. A LIST. That means that even if we go on it, we may be waiting a while to get in.

4) Finding a facility that doesn't have a ton of "reports" against them on the state website. Um, I was absolutely stunned to see how many infractions some of the centers had and what the issues were. Some have what seems like a lot of reports, but then when you look at them they don't seem that bad...others may only have one report, but then you look and it turns out to be a doozy. (Yes, I said doozy and yes I was absolutely SHOCKED at the incident in the report in particular that I'm thinking of.)

Once all of that is said and done, it's also a good idea to go tour the facilities you haven't crossed off the list and see firsthand what you think and, if you can take your kiddo, how they fit in. I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that things aren't always as great in person as they are on paper - or on the 'net. I visited one facility where the woman over the toddler class was running around in low rise jeans and a crop top. She would have been perfectly fine if she were on her way out to a club in Deep Ellum...not so much for having sing-along-time on the clown mat. Judgemental of me? Maybe. But seriously, I'm not signing up to have Britney Spears look after my peanut.

At any rate, I'm exhausted. And I'm curious to see what Todd's input will be considering I'm the one that has done all the research to this point. For those who may not know, Todd's the more, uh, frugal of the two of us. We tend to balance each other out nicely but given the cost of quality (and sometimes even not so quality) child care options, I foresee me having to remind him that looking for bargain basement options isn't always the best idea.

Wish me luck.

Comments

[00Frog]

LUCK! We're going through the same thing right now. I was also hoping to find a part time option so G's mom could keep Baby T a couple of days a week, but wasn't very succesful in that venture. I think we've pretty much decided on a place near my work called the Peanut Gallery - I think they also have a location in Flower Mound, and while they don't do part time for infant, they do for toddlers (not sure if that starts at 18 mos or what...) Can you give me the Web site for checking incident reports? I'd be very interested in that...

[Amy]

good luck bran!! I do not envy you. We have been lucky to keep the older two at home until after 18 mos. and then we have a fablous mothers day out at a church that little miss will go to. In fact, can you belive this they are waiting for her. They really do not know what they are asking for but I will let them have her and see what I have been warning them about.

[Holly]

Just reading your blog...and I know EXACTLY what you're going through. I've decided that LP needs a little time away from Mommy (such a mommy's girl) and hope to get her into a MDO program when she's three. Trying to get it all figured out now so we might be ready for the fall. But, I have to admit - it's going to break my heart knowing she's out there experiencing things without me. :( Yeah, I'm going to need all of this time to get prepared myself for this change!
One more thing you might keep in mind because of when Paige's birthday falls - are the classes just broken up strictly into age groups or do they consider interests & activity level. Why are all the good places so dang expensive?! But, definitely an area you don't want to skimp on, right? GOOD LUCK!