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Every day She had to leave Her kids with the sitter, She felt horrible. She wanted to be home with them. She hated going to work every day and leaving them with someone else. But, She did have a wonderful sitter. The sitter worked with Baby Girl, learning signs and helping her progress. They felt extremely lucky to have this woman to take care of Baby Girl. Their niece went there too so it made Her feel better that her babies were with their cousin. But She still hated leaving them.
Summer was finally here and She couldn’t wait to be done for the summer and spend Her days with the kids. They were 1 and 2 now and getting a little more independent. They were taking naps regularly, sleeping through the night, eating better and more regularly, they were fun. They still were a lot of work, but more fun and much more manageable. Little Man was even walking now.
On the last day of school, Her babysitter announced that she would not be watching kids anymore. This was like a punch to the gut. She at least felt somewhat better leaving the kids with her; now what would They do? Who on earth would they get to babysit now? It wasn’t as if it was easy to find someone to care for Baby Girl. They had to find someone who would care for her even though she had special needs. Someone who would work with her, who would learn sign language, who would be conscience of what Baby Girl needed. It would not be easy.
They searched all summer and found someone who sounded like a good fit. School started again and the kids started going to the new sitter. She felt even more apprehensive and upset at leaving the kids now. The first few weeks went ok, especially for Little Man. But something just felt “off” regarding Baby Girl. She had a feeling that Baby Girl was watching a lot of TV and kind of being ignored. After about a month, they had a disagreement with the new sitter and decided that it just wasn’t working out and let her go.
But now they were without a sitter. In the middle of the school year.
Right then and there they had it. They couldn’t do this anymore. It was too much, too stressful, to crazy of a life. They decided then and there that They would do whatever they had to so that She could stay home and the kids wouldn’t have to go to daycare. It wasn’t that They opposed to daycare, it was that they couldn’t find anything or anyone good enough for Baby Girl. She needed more.
They heard that their former sitter, the one who was great, was not working anywhere. So they called and begged her to watch the kids just for the rest of the school year until She quit. The sitter gladly accepted. She was thrilled that They made this decision for their family. She would just have to finish the year and She would be home with her babies.
How wonderful (and what a relief) that your sitter came back for you to finish out the year. It must have been so stressful to feel the need to quit in the middle of the school year…on top of everything else.
What an awesome person to agree to watch your kids again?!
I think a huge lesson in day care is to rely on your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Finding childcare has been one of the most challenging pieces. Such a neccesary evil for me. We are in the processes of changing sitters again this next week. Its getting easier as they get older and I had amazing childcare when Riley was little but its always hard. I have to say I was never the mom cut out to be a full time stay at home mom… I so could go parttime and LOVE it though.
So glad you were able to quit at the end of the year. That sounds so stressful trying to find someone to help.
Such a difficult decision. Going through this right now. Puts your life into perspective, FAST. Glad you made the right choice for you and your family.
I have always felt so fabulous about being able to leave the boys with my MIL. While it hasn’t always gone smoothly, I know always that they are getting all the love and attention that they need. This was an awesome thing you were able to do for your family:)