Sorry about the radio silence, but I’ve been a bit busy.
I’d like to introduce Kiddo to everyone. He made his entrance into this world on July 1st at 6:46am (after I was in labor for just about freaking ever) and was 7 lbs. 15 oz and 20 inches long (technically 19.88 inches, but I’m rounding).
The name thing was difficult for us. We were debating between the last name of a president/civil war general and a family name. After he was born, it was clear that the family name fit him the best. So, we named him after his paternal great-grandfather/his dad’s middle name and inadvertently after Harry Potter’s dad. (I say inadvertently because we didn’t realize they shared a name until a friend of mine mentioned it.) I don’t have a really good blog name for Kiddo yet, so I’m open to suggestions in the comments.
I’ll probably post a birth story– mostly for myself and because I’ve always enjoyed reading other people’s stories– eventually. Also, I have some other thoughts on pregnancy and new parenthood that I’ve not been able to share. So, I’ll post those too… sometime.
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Now the Daycare Dilemma.
Finding a place for Kiddo has been difficult. We had solved this problem back in May and settled on Third Choice Daycare (for lack of a better pseudonym). About three weeks ago I got a call from Close-Second Choice Daycare saying they had an opening. We jumped at that. The location of Close-Second Choice Daycare is slightly more convenient than Third Choice and I liked the teachers much better. Also, they have webcams that would allow me to check on Kiddo throughout the day. So, we put down a nonrefundable deposit of ~$1000 (enrollment fee and 1st month– daycare is expensive!) and were pleased.
Now today we got an email from 1st Choice/On-Campus Daycare saying they had an opening. 1st Choice/On-Campus Daycare is literally a 5 minute walk (if that) from my lab, has nursing rooms (I could nurse Kiddo at lunch!), and would allow him to spend less time in daycare (due to almost no transit time). So, the question is: Do we forget about our large deposit to Second Choice and go with 1st Choice/On-Campus Daycare? Or do we tell 1st Choice/On-Campus Daycare, thanks but no? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
congratulations on the new arrival and welcome to the mommy blogosphere. I know it would be difficult (babies are SO damn expensive) but on campus daycare has been SO fabulous for us. We didn't have baby option, but I think it would be even better at a younger age. Leaving a baby is not easy (at least it wasn't for me) and proximity helps a lot. You may still be able to deduct the $1K on your taxes and see the rest as an investment in piece of mind.
Congrats again 🙂
As for the daycare, I think it depends on how important it is for you to be really close to your son during the day. I knew it would be incredibly difficult for me to focus at work and leave Monkey if I nursed him during the day – once in the morning is hard enough. Plus we live very far away from where I work, so I would be solely responsible for dropping off/picking up duties.
As much as I miss Monkey during the day with our current arrangement (a daycare far away from work but very close to our home), I'm able to focus on my work. Sounds cold maybe, but I've found it so hard myself to focus on what I'm doing at any moment (work when I'm at work, Monkey when I'm with Monkey, etc). This arrangement makes it just a little easier for me.
good to hear from you, and welcome to little NickNameLess!
Congrats on your Canada Day baby!
I also find if I visit my baby at lunch I don't want to go back to work. She is 8 months now. Will on campus daycare cost less per week than the place you have a deposit with? And will maybe they give you a refund or partial if they can fill your spot quickly?
Congratulatuons on your new family member.
Congratulations! So happy for you 🙂
I wish I could have my baby closer to me, and visiting during lunch would be lovely. Unfortunately, I commute into a place where everything is twice the price as compared to where we live, so Dovie stays a commute away 🙁 I think you should think what would be easiest long term – babies take a lot of time, and even those extra 10 minutes a day of driving out of your way can count for a lot, especially with early bedtimes which leave you little time with your little one after you get home.
Jennie, good to see you around also – I hope you are enjoying your daughter!
Congratulations on the arrival of your little one!
I think if you can part with the $1000, you should go with the 1st choice option. It will be so much easier to nurse there versus having to pump at the lab (if you planned on doing that) and you will save time on the commute, which becomes really important in the long run. Plus, once the little one is older and you are no longer nursing, you most likely won't be visiting during the day. However, will it be a big deal for others to drop-off or pick-up if you need to stay later? Perhaps go back and look at the reasons that you chose them as 1st choice…if losing the deposit is the only reason not to go there and you can part with it, I think it is worth it.
Congratulations to little one 🙂
Hope all goes well with the day care – not having being in your situation I'd look how hard it is for little one's dad to come pick up next to your work or if you will be the only one dropping off and picking up if it is on campus?
Other than that, I'd like the easy part of being close – especially if you consider that the sickness rate of smaller children and having to pick them up. If little one is on campus, you might be able to sort out some smaller things after you picked him up?!
Hooray! Congratulations. I recently put my kiddo in a closer daycare that seems to be slightly worse educationally than his last. The minutes you spend in your car are cumulatively huge. For example, Even though Boy's old better dc was only a mile away, that was 20 minutes of driving. 20 Minutes! NO BIG DEAL, right? But that's 40 minutes a day, and 200 minutes a week. I sure could use 200 more minutes in my week! SO we weighed how much hassle and time it saved vs. whether it was that much worse educationally. We took the risk and put him in the close one, and are still waiting and watching to see if we need to reverse our decision.
p.s. sometimes the lunchtime nursings don't always work anyway, then you still have to go back to your office and pump in addition to your visit.
Thanks for all the congratulations! Both Dr. Man and I are thrilled with our new arrival (but wouldn't object to him sleeping more at night).
We decided to go with the on campus day care (First Choice). It works out to be cheaper than Second Choice (if you factor in the money we may lose on the deposit it's the same price). I think I'll be happier having Kiddo close by (but we'll have to see how the visiting thing goes). Also, it's a better daycare program from what I gather from talking to people who sent their kids to either place. We sign all the final paperwork on Tuesday!
Also, I wanted to add! Hi Jennie and congrats on your daughter!