Well a couple of weeks ago the hubby and I made the decision that I would go to nights and keep the baby home with me during the day to save on daycare costs.  It saves us roughly $400 a month.  I think with the economy the way it is we are not the only ones making this change. 

So far so good.  We have a pretty good little boy that is on a schedule so he allows for nap times and things like that and does not cause too much ruckus during the day. 

Im lucky that I have a job that allows a flexible schedule.  Right now Im loving working at night.  I do not have to deal with the daily drama and BS that comes with working in an office full of women.  That sounds horrible but its true.  While I cant say that I never participated in it, its easier to keep your nose clean if you are not even there to be involved in the first place!  The night shift is not only a relaxing invironment but its made me come to realize how lucky I am to have the job that I have.  Before switching I was thinking daily I was just going to walk out!

I hated to have to take the little one out of daycare but you gotta do what you gotta do and once its time for pre-school he’ll go back.  I did not get the standard 6wks with him due to having to return to work early and hubby was home with him for the first 3mo so I feel like I missed a lot.  Now its time for me to catch up!

So moral of the story is if you have a job that allows you to work nights take the opportunity!  You might find that you love it and it will enable you to be a better wife and mother in the process!!!

Tags: daycare, drama, flexible schedule, Night Shift, pre-school

Well most households these days are two income. If you are a SAHM consider yourself one of the lucky and the few. With the rising costs of fuel, and everyday means to get by its very hard in this day and age to have one parent that stays home.

I have a friend going thru the dilema of wanting to stay home but not wanting to have to struggle to make ends meet as many one working parent homes do. Yes it is better for your kids if you are the one that is taking care of them all day. That goes without saying. No one is going to take care of your babies the way that you do. But you also want to have the means to provide for them and not be living off of state assistance or be struggling in any way.

Is there really an answer to this problem? The horror stories you hear about daycares only makes this more of an upfront problem. Just in the past two weeks two private home daycares have been shut down due to neglegance. You hear these stories and you ask yourself is my baby really safe? Makes you want to send one of them little nanny cams with him/her everyday.

I for one am a working mother. While sometimes I think it might be nice to stay at home, other times I really think I’d go insane. I LOVE MY BABY. That goes without saying. I love him to pieces but I also enjoy my time away from him. I like going to work and having that adult interaction. Does that make me a bad mother? Is it wrong that I like going to work? The sad thing is you consider work your “me” time. When really its just another headache that you have to deal with throughout the day and just someone else demanding all of your time and attention.

For those of you out there that are SAHM I do envy you. I envy you for being able to do it. I know I couldn’t. I dont know how my mom did it. I know she worked for a lot of years but when I was growing up she ran a licensed daycare out of our home and was always there to take care of me too. Looking back she seems like SUPERMOM! I’ve always said if I am half the mother my mom was then I am doing a good job. Sometimes it feels like I’m never going to get there!

So I guess the question is…What is right? I don’t think anyone can really give that answer. The experts will tell you if you can stay at home for your kids that is what is best for them and SAHM’s will argue that its the only way to do things; whereas working mothers will tell you their way is right. Its one of those grey areas that I think whatever works best for you and your family is what is right in that instance!

Tags: daycare, Mommy Blog, SAHM, stay at home mom, working mother