Daycare spot opened early:WWYD?

[mystiquesmom]

My dilemma: I was planning on going back to work in the new year when the daycare that DS#1 currently attends(and DS#2, who is now 10 months, will be attending) lets me know today that a spot is available as of today and if I wanted to take it. They are not sure if a spot will be available in January if I don't take this one. There are only 10 infant spots available in total and this is a daycare with a waiting list of about 200. I am not sure if my job will hold my position for me if I don't take the spot and go back later after one is available as legally they are not obligated to and probably won't.

I will note that I do not like my job at all and am only going back because financially we can't afford for me to stay home permanently, even though after daycare costs and transportation, I will only be bringing in about $200 a month. My benefits are also better than at H's job. Even though I don't like my job(it's in a field that I've wanted to get out of for quite sometime), I do have a wonderful manager and a few co-workers I like.

I am afraid that if I quit my current job and try and find another, I won't be able to with the job market the way it is. Working part time on the hours that H isn't working is also not an option, as I did that with DS#1 for a little while and he complained so much, that I ended up going back full time and put him into daycare. H also works very long hours with the occasional last minute business trip, so that would be difficult. DS#1 also likes daycare well enough and loves having lots of kids to play with. It's been very good for him.

I have other skills(fashion design) but my current field(IT) pays way better and is more stable. I would love to have my own business, but DS#1(who will be 4 in January) is very spirited and requires a lot of my attention, so it is almost impossible to do so. H had promised to give me time to work my business while I've been off, but has failed to and I don't want to push the issue any more.

So WWYD in my position? I want to stay home with DS#2 as long as possible, as he is my last LO and I would not be able to get that time back ever. But the practical side of me thinks I should just suck it up and go back early. Any helpful words would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Southern_Belle]

First off, hugs to you!!!

The decision if and when to return to work is a difficult one. I went back to work after about 4 months and sometimes wish I could get some of the time back, but it makes me delight in my time with my daughter that much more.

That being said, I also live in a market where one has to hop on a daycare waitlist the minute you find out you are expecting. If you KNOW you are going back to work, and there are no if/and's/but's about it, I think you should take the spot. Good daycares are super hard to get in (at least they are here).

But I would also ask you, what option do you have if that spot is NOT available when it's time to go back to work? That should really be your deciding factor. If you have no other alternatives, it seems like you should take the spot.

[rcr]

I live in a place where if you can get a spot before you need it you should take it and pay for it anyway. We paid for day care for 3 months prior to needing it, because we were afraid to loose the spot.

I guess it depends on how competitive it is for a good spot where you live... but me, I would take it.

[purplepaperclip]

I have had the same experience. Right now I'm waiting on spot for my dd in January. She has to be 2 before she can go to the preschool. But, if someone else comes along and wants it in the mean time, I either have to pay double (current babysitter and preschool to hold the spot) or give it up and hope that something else opens up after she turns 2. With the limited choice of quality childcare in this craphole of a town, we are keeping our fingers crossed that this situation doesn't happen, but if it does we are just going to have to suck it up and dive into our already measly savings to pay to hold the spot.

Anyways, I don't know if this helps you in any way but to know you are not alone. Quality childcare is hard to find and when you do sometimes the timing sucks.

[Maluhia]

I'd take the spot.....even if you take a lot of "family time" off in December you'll have it for Jan.

[pumpkin]

If you were planning to take a spot in January then this is just a few weeks early. I would probably crunch the numbers and see if you can figure out a way to take the spot now, but delay your return to work by a couple of weeks. That way you can send DC part-time while you are still home and ease the transition. It may be easier on all of you.

[mammastar2]

I would take it! Spots are hard to find, and this will give you the ability to ramp up slowly and get babe used to daycare gradually. You don't need to use it all day in the meantime.

Why not take the hours he is in care to pull together a resume and start looking for something else? If you don't find anything, he'll still have had a more gradual start to ease him in to your return to work, and you'll have had time to put out a few feelers. Or you could put together a business plan for your own business, and start looking at those logistics.

[kittykat2481]

I started my DS in daycare 2 weeks before I had to go back to school, and the first couple of weeks of school were light for me, so I had lots of time to transition him (and me). I would take the spot and let DD start getting aquainted with daycare early.

[Carita]

you are really only paying for December to hold your spot. I would take it. They don't actually have to go until January... you can try doing PT in December to ease them in, let them know the kids and teachers, get used to the germs, and as the PP said - even look for a new job

[mystiquesmom]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and taking the time to respond, it really makes me feel a lot better.

I've decided to take the spot and have him actually start in January as decided. Spots in a good daycare are very hard to come by and I should take it while I can. Taking a little extra time to transition him would be good, too, although he's really easy going and has very minimal separation anxiety. I can always make more money, but will never get the time back.