Well, I've been lucky so far to have my in-laws babysit for us when I work. Well the other day they told us that they just are finding it too hard to do. Here's my dilema, I'm an RN and my shifts start at 7:30, if I have to take them to day care (total strangers) I would need to drop them off at 6:30 as the hospital I work at is 40 min away, and that of course is if I can find a local daycare that would take them, DH would pick them up around 5pm. If I have to work a night shift, he would have to take them by about 6:30. Brenna's in school so I would need to find somewhere that would take her to school and pick her up. My SIL used to babysit Brenna before we had the other 2 and my in-laws suggested asking her but we really don't want to b/c she isn't very careful about watching the kids and she has alot of other things she does, with all her kids and mine if we went with her I would have to leave the car seats so she could take the kids to school, etc. She doesn't have a fenced yard and she lives on a main road and doesn't think twice about letting the kids play in the front yard. I would worry about them running onto the road.

What we are thinking is that maybe I could go casual (on call) and only be available to work nights but that I would need to leave by 5:30 to get home before DH goes to work, we own a cafe, that's what he does. Its' possible that the inlaws will come and watch the kids for 2 hours until I get home but they haven't given us a definite answer. I could pay for our medical and dental if I go casual but our income would be alot tighter than it is now.

Does anyone have any suggestions? How do you have 2 people working in a family and still have your kids cared for with school age kids and toddlers. I'm really worried that we won't be able to make this work. Thanks for all those who are still reading this, I hope I made some sort of sense.

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I am sorry, For Brenna most schools have a before and after school program that she might like, I think that I would try to talk to your inlaws about the 2 hours b4 you get home.
Have you thought about daycae in a school ? Olivia & Kieron might even be int he same class. Riley goes to daycare full time and he just loves it, I hope that you find a solution soon that fits you all. Good Luck.

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Sorry you are having childcare issues ... hopefully the inlaws will watch them for the 2 hrs. a day and then the kids won't be thrown off schedule ... it's tough knowing what to do ... Connor goes to daycare on average 3 days a week (I work shift work) and he does like it there .. asked if he could go today!!! .. even though I'm off!!! ... We had the option of my neighbor watching him but for alot of reasons (some very similar to your SIL ) we opted for daycare and him being there I have peace of mind knowing he is learning and most important being properly watched every minute of the day .. now mind you it was a tough road with Connor and daycare ... he would cry every morning ... some mornings even before we would leave the house .. and when we'd get there he'd cling to me like crazy glue .. but he got over all that and now he gets up in the window and waves good-bye to us and can't wait to tell us what he did that day when we pick him up

Sorry I was rambling ... I sure hope everything works out best for everyone ..

You know, this is a big reason why I didn't want to be a WOHM. I would get so flustered over situations like that. I really don't have any advice, but I hope you can work something out that you are comfortable with and works for you.

Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time with daycare

My only sugestion would to look into getting someone to come into your home.

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