I love the bean. He is a sweet kid. But frankly I am really tired of taking care of a kid 20 hours a day. It's mind numbing. The hubby helps out a lot.
I am just really tired because he still doesn't sleep and the sleep training is hit or miss.
But even though I am tired, I want to do work. I feel compelled to make more money and contribute more to the household.
I like my field, and I like making money, I find it fulfilling. So how do I make it work with a baby?
My mother works full time and can't babysit during business hours. I already import my MIL for weeks at a time when I have a huge project to do that requires a lot of hours. But those projects only happen 2 to 3 times a year.
I want to fill in the rest with some part time work, either from home (as a freelancer, which I did before the bean ) or at an office. The only problem with freelancing is I can't have him crying in the background while I am on the phone,and his nap times are so sporadic that it's near impossible to schedule calls when he is asleep.
Is there any way I can make it work? There is no part-time daycare here for babies Beaner's age. And I am not comfortable with full time. (Nor would it work financially)
I could possibly ask two friend to babysit once or twice a week, but I would be limited to the hours their children are in school. And how much should I pay them? I have no idea.
HELP!!!
I need to do something soon.
Can I have a work life and a baby?
September 3rd, 2008 at 01:45 pm
September 3rd, 2008 at 04:13 pm 1220458434
Someone should be able to come into your home and help you out for an affordable price. Good luck let us know what happens.
September 3rd, 2008 at 05:24 pm 1220462655
I'll bet there might be students who would be willing to come in and play with the little bean or a regular, albeit part-time, basis.
We sometimes use sitters from the university child care service--I know they've been vetted, but we pay them a lot $8/hr. Or maybe there's neighborhood kids who could do this occasionally?
September 3rd, 2008 at 05:25 pm 1220462711
September 3rd, 2008 at 06:20 pm 1220466030
September 4th, 2008 at 04:12 pm 1220544725
Anyway, even though I thought it would never end, UE did manage to learn to both nap and sleep thru the night, so if I had the desire I could do something useful now.
September 4th, 2008 at 06:12 pm 1220551939
September 4th, 2008 at 06:25 pm 1220552742
& look look look look look. I had a hell of a time finding part-time care when my child was just about 3. BUT I ended up finding the most awesome place in the world. Ended up going in-home daycare, but few would fill up a spot with a part-time child. I feel like I found the only place in the county who does, and it turned out to be a good fit. Likewise, I think I suggested to zetta, if you can lock in a part-time spot at an in-home daycare, you don't have to USE all of the time, but it may be cheaper than paying for occasional care. That is what I find. We looked a lot for occasional care since my spouse has random work like you, but it just never really worked. Most people we found online wanted to charge minimum wage whereas the daycare comes out to about $4/hour - since there are other kids and you buy in bulk, etc. ($8/hour, in comparison, was hard to justify - particularly since my spouse's work is largely unpaid at this point). These days my spouse just works his schedule around when the kids are at school/daycare. He's got nights, weekends, naps, and 2-3 days a week. It works.
Beyond all that, it does get better. When they turn 2 there is a lot more out there. & same with 3 & 4 (those ages just get better - more options). & then before you know it they are in school.
I notice a big change in my spouse (who stays home with the kids) since the youngest turn 3. Just know this will not last forever - it gets easier. IT might be a couple of years, but it will get easier.
September 4th, 2008 at 06:42 pm 1220553745
September 4th, 2008 at 07:48 pm 1220557687
Good luck to you!
September 4th, 2008 at 08:18 pm 1220559516
September 4th, 2008 at 09:53 pm 1220565226
September 6th, 2008 at 06:16 pm 1220724961
It couldn't hurt. Maybe you could sweeten the pot by offering some kind of modest compensation, might not even have to be money... oops, just saw you found someone already. well, just as a backup, still might want to talk to MIL
September 6th, 2008 at 09:15 pm 1220735701
September 7th, 2008 at 07:41 pm 1220816489