Thats so true about not having the support groups that used to exist, i have no family atall in this country, DP only has his dad and he is in sydney. i tried to find like minded mothers around here but i think they are all at home on the computer chatting on BB
Sometimes you have to build your village because for various reasons you don't have the 'automatic' village of family. And if that village building incorporates childcare then I think it's wonderful and she will only benefit from it. I'm another SAHM who never uses formal childcare but if I had to I would because I think that it can be vitally important to foster relationships like this kwim? And then when you do decide to go back to work, you've already taken half the stress out of the situation by having her comfortably settled in cc already. Good luck and let us know how it all goes!