Tilda, you should def see about staying with Matilda a few days at care...please keep me posted...If the carers don't try to adjust to Matilda's needs (at least at first until she gets comfortable) then that is not the place for her. I feel like Matilda SHOULD adjust, but the carer SHOULD also understand that it takes a bit of time and if she is not willing to be flexible to try to help her transition smoothly, that also means that she won't be more patient with her when she is teething or grumpy etc...At least you would have given it a try and worst case scenario you either ask around for other great centers, or you get someone in house...that would never work for me though because if Eva knows I am around she won't let starngers take care of her (unless it is DH or family that she sees often)...Plus, I have a hard time letting go of taking care of her when I am nearby...so even if someone else is there to do it, I would run to help all the time...but if your issue is housework and stuff like that, maybe some help with the housework and laundry would be enough...but I am thinking that a newborn and toddler at home might also be a lot to handle, although tons of people do it and are just fine I just need a bit of time for managing our lives (administrative, finanacial etc..) even when I am home full time.
You should also maybe try bigger structures like Montessori schools, if you have those there...(I mention Montessori because they are really very individual based programs and follow the desires of each child rather than forcing schedules etc...Matilda might like that). The bigger programs tend to be more "customer service" oriented...my daycare is part of a school, so they want the parents to see what is going on and they hold themselves responsible for the child's well being (needless to say, accidents like Eva's foot thing still happen ) No matter how you look at it, coming into someone's house is bound to annoy them, no matter what, it is still their personal space...whereas is a school or daycare center, the employees feel less connected to the space, and don't have their personal stuff sorrounding them (and you don't run the risk of the carer "throwing in a load of laundry" while the kids nap or whatever)...On the other hand the more personal care might be nicer for more sensitive babies who need more intimacy - Eva is super sensitive and does not like too much mess and noise, but I find that she is happy in her system and I am happy that she is in an environment that is more crowded, where meals are taken together, they have holidays and birthday with the bigger kids, and the carers only have their children to worry about since there is the school cleaning staff, kitchen and administrators at their disposition...I am happy knowing that they are 100% focused on the children and not worried about preparing meals or cleaning up (of course they have to cut up fruit and clear the table but there are ladies who come around to clear the dishes and change the garbage bins etc...)...
Another thing I do often is pop in at random hours of the day to see what is going on...and apart from a few times where I thought Eva's nose needed to be wiped, I was pretty happy to see them playing with the children, feeding them etc...
I am glad she had a good night's sleep and seems to be back in order, and I hope it stays that way!!!!!
Keep me posted on what ends up happening with the whole situation!
xoxo
Last edited by BrusselsSprout; March 21st, 2011 at 10:37 PM.
I just need a bit of time for managing our lives (administrative, finanacial etc..) even when I am home full time.
) No matter how you look at it, coming into someone's house is bound to annoy them, no matter what, it is still their personal space...whereas is a school or daycare center, the employees feel less connected to the space, and don't have their personal stuff sorrounding them (and you don't run the risk of the carer "throwing in a load of laundry" while the kids nap or whatever)...On the other hand the more personal care might be nicer for more sensitive babies who need more intimacy - Eva is super sensitive and does not like too much mess and noise, but I find that she is happy in her system and I am happy that she is in an environment that is more crowded, where meals are taken together, they have holidays and birthday with the bigger kids, and the carers only have their children to worry about since there is the school cleaning staff, kitchen and administrators at their disposition...I am happy knowing that they are 100% focused on the children and not worried about preparing meals or cleaning up (of course they have to cut up fruit and clear the table but there are ladies who come around to clear the dishes and change the garbage bins etc...)...
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks