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Daycare moms - how much is too much?
K has been at her current school almost a year (it'll be a year in April). Generally we've been happy, but lately there have been some issues that, while aren't major, are causing us to reevaluate the situation. Add to that the fact that I WAH now and the daycare is no longer convenient for both of us (well, it was never really convenient for my husband but it's definitely INconvenient for me now).
There's a daycare in our development that we looked at back when she was an infant and weren't thrilled. Obviously every room is different so we're planning to check it out now that she'd be in the 2-3yo program. Our neighbors/friends send their daughter there for after-care since our town's kindergarten is only half-day and they've been very happy. It would be nice to have her so close during the day, not to mention the greater potential for her to be in class with kids she'll eventually go to kindergarten with.
My main concern is moving her and the adjustment. She had the typical tough time with the move last April and I feel guilty moving her again a year later.
Thoughts? Obviously nothing is set in stone, we haven't even checked out the place again, but I'm trying to think about pros/cons.
Re: Daycare moms - how much is too much?
Max was in daycare his entire life (in NJ) and we moved to MA last July. We put him in a daycare up here and within 11 days pulled them both--hated it. I had split the kids up b/c they didnt have room for Leo at the daycare I wanted Max in. It worked out ok, but that meant I moved Leo from nj to three in MA. Max went to two in MA. Leo is only 14 mnths old and handled it well. Max had a big adjustment from NJ to MA but he is much older (almsot 5). He is going to kindergarten (not in the town he goes to daycare in) so that's another change come September.
It's hard---really hard---but if you have a gut feeling, go with it. i dreaded taking them to the first place we had them in---and i hated pulling them again but I would rather deal with that than keep them in a place i felt was inferior.
Good luck!
I was thinking about your situation, Jess, as I was typing this so I'm glad you responded.
I know, at the end of the day, that she'll be fine wherever she goes. Kids are resilient. And I know it's better for her to be somewhere we are comfortable with then to stick with a place we're having some doubts about just because the transition might be tough. I just don't want to make a rash decision (which I know we won't do, but still...)
my advice is that if there are things that are bothering you now start looking around now. It took me 6 months to decide where to switch and honestly by the time I was done looking things had gotten much worse at the daycare she was at and I was so glad I started looking before then so that I wouldn't have to make a rash decision. Chances are that the things that are bothering you about her current situation now are only going to bother you more in a few months. She will be fine. I was a mess over moving her and was freaking out and for her it was no big deal at all. I was crying the night before we sent her to her new school, meanwhile she transitioned just fine and it only took her about a week to really just fit right in.
Good luck in whatever you choose.
Thank you! Now let me ask you this...
Part of me wonders if the issues we're having are just the reality of daycare or if they're issues we should really be concerned about. This is why I'm so hesitant...are we going to find similar things to be unhappy about elsewhere? I don't want to keep moving her around until she starts kindergarten in 3 years. I know no situation is perfect, but I wonder if somewhere else would be better.
This is a good point. It really isn't convenient anymore now that I'm home. I'm losing any commuting benefit I'd derive from being home by driving all the way to NJ and back every day to pick her up. And we don't love it. We used to, but haven't been as happy after she moved to the room she's currently in.
I guess we've got some homework to do.
The good thing is that from our experience at her first place and our current experience we know what questions to ask.