When you are a working woman and get that "+" on a stick, one of the first choices you have to consider is will I continue to work? Although the question seems simple in nature, it encompasses every aspect of your lifestyle and personality. There are so many different options out there for childcare that it can just boggle the mind. I am fortunate that my employer allowed me to bring in my daughter Isabel from 2-12 months. Because of my dedication, and my husband's busy job (he was a drill instructor for the USMC at that time), I was at work for about 12 hours everyday. I ate all 3 meals at the office. I had a crib, rocker, swing and baby toys in my office. Although they would never ask me to work 12 hours straight, I had no problem giving that time to them considering my honest assessment of time spent with my daughter throughout the day, and my desire to repay my employer with a full 8 hours of time since they were extending this special circumstance for me. It was a busy time, but I really felt reassured that I knew what my daughter was doing and where she was at all times.
When she reached a year old, I was finding the time I spent occupying my daughter was outweighing the time I spent actually working. I originally made the decision to quit. I gave the company 30 days, which turned into 60 and 90 until I reached another solution. With horror stories abounding about daycare centers and abused children, I had a hard time even considering this as an option. I approached my teenaged brother and came to an agreement. He moved in and became the "manny". When we hired him at my company, I was stuck again, but extended the offer to another one of my brothers. He did the same and still watches her to this day (she's 3 1/2). There were time periods in between where I had to bring her in to the office or find close friends/grandparents to watch her, but we managed it.
With baby Olivia arriving in late August, I am faced with a whole new set of questions and scenarios for the same question. Do I want to go home? Work part-time? Send Isabel and Olivia to daycare? Extend my brother's contract for 2 kids (if he'd even want to)? Take just Olivia in to work? Each solution has it drawbacks and positives. To keep things simple, I am leaning towards bringing Olivia in to work with me like I did with Isabel. No problem right? Well, I still go through the whole "Mommy why are you going to work?" every morning with Isabel. How is she going to feel when the brand new baby taking over everything else now gets to go to work with Mommy too? And now that my husband has a less demanding schedule and I would have another child at home, working extended hours wouldn't be a realistic option to ensuring I am fulfilling my 40 hours a week.
Speaking of that - lunch time is just about up. Think I'll get back to it, reflect a little more on options, and hopefully come up with a good solution before the baby comes!
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