My proposal included a 3-day week for July - December, ramping up to 100% for busy season (min-Jan through mid-March), then slowing back down to "keeping up with stuff" in June. Our formal agreement is just going to cover the first six months now, then re-assess the cyclical schedule before busy season hits.
However, if the paycheck goes down, so must the daycare bill! I was concerned about a structured center working with such a funky schedule (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday), but our current daycare agreed to it. They are even willing to work with the switch to full-time for busy season, etc. Nice! The boys will be home with me on Monday and Thursday, and we will finally have time to play with our stay-at-home friends! Yea! I may even (gasp!) try to cook dinner on days at home.
So today is probably my last free Monday (we will be on vacation next Monday.) Did you know I've had a day when I usually don't work, but the boys still go to daycare? I've used this day to catch up around the house from the weekend, do laundry, run errands, doctor appointments, etc. And, yes, I try to make time for a nap, too. I will miss these days for sure!
And now there is another big decision to make. Several kids from JTC's class at Current Daycare have moved to a new center in the area, including his best friend, Casey. I know they're only three, but he still talks about her frequently, and Casey's mom reports that she does, too. They have agreed to work with my crazy schedule, and Granny and I went for a tour last week. Here are my thoughts:
Current Daycare
- Pro: We've been there for almost 3 years, so we have good relationships with the directors and many teachers. I respect and like the director staff.
- Pro: They have better grassy areas for play and cooler playground equipment.
- Pro: The location is a pretty easy in-and-out for both Bryan going to work and me coming from home.
- Pro: AJC is clearly loved by his teachers and loves them back. While you'd better not get in his way when I get in the room, as soon as I pick him up, he's all smiles to his teacher. ("Look! It's my mom!")
- Pro: Reid (AJC's buddy) and his mom, Becky. I like them a lot and don't want to lose contact.
- Con: I don't like the feel of JTC's room. It's almost always chaotic and loud when I pick him up. Yes, I understand that there are 18-ish 3-year olds in there, but it seems out-of-control too often for comfort.
- Con: I don't have a relationship with any of JTC's teachers, even though he's been in the room for 3 months. I don't have confidence in them. I thought I had written about it, but I can't find it... I had to call and complain about one of them for telling the kids there were monsters on the playground "so they would stop bugging us to go play outside" when it was wet. No effort is put into JTC's daily report, if it's even in his folder. He missed making the Father's Day present one morning last week due to VBS, and I think they should have done it with him at another time. etc.
- Con: Price. Although I can see the owners offering to match on price, so this may not end up an issue.
Alternate Daycare
- Pro: Price. The savings are significant if Current Daycare doesn't match. If they don't match, this probably makes the decision for us.
- Pro: Casey. There are five kids (including Casey and Theresa) that have switched from JTC's class, so it wouldn't be that much of an adjustment.
- Neutral, but different: They have a spray park on-site that they visit once/week in the summer. Current Daycare does sprinklers/water tables and rents inflatables.
- Neutral, but different: They go to a cafeteria for meals at 2+ instead of eating in their rooms.
- Neutral, but different: They have internet cameras, so I can log on and watch them. This is not a deal-breaker for me, but it would ease my transition.
- Neutral, but different: They have a separate room for 10-12-ish months. They work on walking, but they also move to one nap. Current Daycare moves to one nap at 12-ish months.
- Con: It's not a straight-shot to the location. Time difference is probably ~10 minutes.
I don't have similar cons for the Alternative, because we're not there, you know? They will let us do a free trial day, so we might do that. I just don't want to tease JTC with it, or base my decision just on a 3-year old and his BFF. My mom's summation was that she liked Alternative better for JTC and Current better for AJC. Separating them is not an option, though!
Thoughts?
11 comments:
From Becky J.: Okay, I'm new to the posting on the blog thing, but I am going to give it a try. Maybe we could just make it easy and Reid could switch to the Alternative. (ha..sort of) Okay, in reading through your very thorough analysis, I have to admit that for JTC's sake the Alternative is looking more attractive for the following reasons: 1) Five kids - wow - from "current" have switched incl. 2 of his good friends that he clearly enjoys seeing 2) his teachers at "current" do not really give you the warm & fuzzies, 3) I think it is a nice change of pace at the Alternative that they go somewhere else - cafeteria - to eat their meals 4) internet cameras at Alternative (still think this is nice) AND as far as for AJC, I think that is pretty neat that they have a separate room for the 10-12ish months b/c there are a lot of changes happening during this time (walking, nap shifts, etc)! So, for selfish reasons I want AJC to stay at current BUT I also can admit that it sounds like there are some definite upsides to the alternative. Plus, as you know, it is my goal at some point in the near future to be able to stay at home with Reid...so he also may not go to the current *someday*. And if you do change to the alternative, Reid & I will still want to continue our normal playdates!!
AWESOME!!! I am so happy to hear the 60% schedule got approved and so so so jealous. I have been dreaming about this a lot lately as my work schedule is so busy.
Here are my initial thoughts on changing day cares.
* 10 extra minutes is 20 minutes a day, times 5 days when you're full time. Is it that much better to justify it? Our day care is 2 miles away so I have no basis, just a question to ask.
* If you're like me, you rarely call to complain, so calling so early into a day care relationship = bad. You're experienced enough to know if it's a good fit in that room or not.
Can I go to the spray park?
If it ws me, the feelings about JTC's teachers would be enough to switch. Could you visit the new room he would be in to get a feel for it without him there? It sounds like the new place would be better overall, especially with all those old friends. Good luck with your decision, I am sure it will be a tricky one.
That's awesome about your new work schedule!! I was trying to work out a schedule to work 4 days a week, one of them from home and it didn't get approved. So instead, I am leaving my job at the end of the year and staying home next year!
I drive 20 minutes out of the way to take Michael to a daycare that has internet video cameras, which helps me with my piece of mind. I do spend a lot of time in the car but it wouldn't be much less to take him somewhere closer to home.
Daycares are much more willing to work with unusual schedules than you think. Michael's daycare didn't charge me when I kept him home while I was out on maternity leave and they have let him come back and pay the daily rate since he isn't going 5 days a week now. It's been great.
Hope that you can make a decision that makes everyone happy!!
I know how difficult the decision is. Katherine goes to MDO 2 days a week and I agonized over whether to keep her where she is or move her. Finally I decided to move her, mainly because the other girls had left and she was the only girl in her class. I did not think that she enjoyed that too much. I still am sad that we are leaving where we are.
I am praying that God would give you wisdom as you make this decision. I know that is so hard. What a blessing though that you have a job that has agreed to this!! I would love to find a job working 2 days a week (like I did in TN) that would cover the cost of daycare. I had a pretty sweet setup in TN working 2 days a week with FREE childcare at church and 50% off of the preschool there and FREE after school care for C at 2:00! Anyway, in my opinion I would choose the alternative. My reasoning is mainly for the price. If it has the same quality of care and teaching as the current one, why not choose the one that costs less. That would be a HUGE factor in our family to consider. Praying and knowing that God would make it clear to you!! I am excited that this will give us more days to play together! I miss you and am so eager for our boys to get to know each other!! :)
Bonnie: Even though I know Casey really wants her buddy back I can be objective because I too had a very close pro/con list. I stressed over this decision for months. Luckily, I now know it was a good decision because both girls are happy. Just a few comments: 1) I don't think current will price match. Especially considering the lower reg. and supply fees and the sibling discount. 2) I agree about JTC's current classroom. It was the same with Riley so I know it won't change or get any better. 3) AJC will soon be where JTC is, so same issues. 4) I agree current has better playground, but alternate has the activity room for rainy days and super hot days. 5) Alternate is much more casual e.g. first name basis (could be pro, con or just different for you). 6) I miss current director, but I really like alternate's owners and they are on site a lot. 7) Time is precious and minutes add up. I've actually saved time because they eat breakfast at school and drop-off is easier without the crying. Good luck with your decision. I know it's tough. Bring JTC for a drop-in. You can also use my camera access if you want to watch some before.
You've gotten lots of great advice! Do you know anything about AJC's prospective teachers? I'd try to find out more about then and if parents are happy with them. The not-so-great teacher situation for JTC is almost a deal-breaker, even with the better facilities and easier location. Are the toys/learning centers inside the classrooms quality?
How awesome that you have this opportunity to go part-time and child care centers that will work with you. You are very fortunate! Good luck with your decision. I bet if you move the boys, you won't regret it. But if you don't, you will always wonder. Still, it's an agonizing decision. Good luck!
I think you've already gotten a lot of great advice, so I just have to say I'm so, so jealous of the 60% schedule. I'm hoping to figure out a way to go down to 3 days a week for work and stay home with Claire the other two after I get through the summer here.
Thought of another possible pro today. Can you get babysitters through the alternative or is that forbidden in the contract? Might be a pro.
(Thought of this as I asked a teacher to sit on Sunday.)
Okay, a quick thought (though it's completely irrelevant!)... I looked at the staff page on the website, and there was something about the infant teachers that made me much more comfortable than the big-kid teachers. Call it intuition, but I worked at daycares in high school/college!
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