Just after our sweet girl turned 1 year old last week, my husband got a new job. We were both thrilled, because the job is perfect for him.
But there was one down side: He’ll be working full-time from an out-of-home office. No more daddy day care.
Since I went back to work full-time in August, Jay has been caring for Cassie while I’m at the office. For the first few months, he spent only a half-day or sometimes a whole day a week at his office (when my mom could watch her). The rest of the time, he was Mr. Multitasker–always feeding, changing, and playing while juggling emails, calls, and paperwork.
I could call home anytime and hear her sweet voice. I didn’t have to wonder where she was or who was taking care of her. Boy, did I feel lucky.
But we also felt pretty fortunate when we found our wonderful babysitter Karen (via my mom’s friend) just after Christmas. Jay needed more time at the office and my mom’s schedule didn’t allow her to fill in. Karen provided the perfect flexible solution for one or two days a week, and Jay continued as a work-at-home dad the rest of the week.
Recently, though, he’s been yearning for a career that’s closer to his education and personal interests (journalism/technology). His only hesitation was having to go back to an office job and not being able to care for Cassie during the weekdays. I reassured him that his fulfillment and happiness were important, and he shouldn’t stay at his current position if it didn’t satisfy him. That wouldn’t do him or Cassie any good.
It also helped that Karen was more than happy to provide Cassie with full time childcare. Knowing that made Jay’s decision to take the new job a whole lot easier.
So in a couple of weeks, we’ll enter a new phase as a family. Mom and Dad will both be working outside the home full-time (both with flexibility), and Cassie will spend her days at the babysitter’s. We’re a little sad that neither of us can be with her all that time, but we know she’ll have a ball–and it’s the right decision for all of us.
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8 thoughts on “A New Chapter for Our Little Family: Shifting to Full Time Childcare”
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Congratulations! That is very exciting news. And it reinforces that working moms and dads face the same issues and can find great solutions.
So glad to hear this all worked out for you guys! It seems you found the perfect work/ childcare scenario. Congrats.
Wow! Your little family is experiencing a lot of changes. (Happy Birthday, Cassie!!!) I feel so out of it not being in the office anymore. I’m really happy for Jay. Good on him! And everything will be fine with the full-time daycare. Cassie’s at a great age to really start enjoying the other kids/new toys at the sitter’s. She’s going to do wonderfully, especially because she has such loving and engaged parents to come home to every day. I’m wishing you all the best!!
Very exciting! I’m happy for you guys.
That is exciting for him! I am sure that he will be enjoy being at the office. Just think, Cassie had the first year to be at home with a parent. Now she is social and will enjoy the interaction of others at the sitter, and it is a sitter you know and trust.
That’s great news for Jerry, Susan. I’m glad to hear he’s getting back to his roots. Is he with a publisher now?
–Dawn
Child care is a difficult decision for all families. One thing that might ease that decision is knowing your child is at home in their own home with an au pair. Instead of the grind of day care, an au pair becomes part of your family and offers so much more than child care for you and for your little ones. Something to consider if you are beginning the child care search or or not happy with the child care you have.