As we all are very aware, all I never wanted to be was a stay-at-home-mom. For years, I would insult my friends who told me they were going to be their own daycare provider. I thought (often out loud and very bluntly), “I could NEVER stay home with my child. I would go CRAZY!”
Therefore, to no one’s surprise, as my business grows, I’m constantly evaluating daycare options. There are many things about daycare that I am all for. I absolutely love the idea of The Buba interacting with other children, having organized learning activities and simply getting out of the house. These pros are all brought on by my neurotic side, who constantly threatens that my son is not stimulated enough, socially inept and going to end up unhappy. But, fortunately, my realistic side also kicks in reminding me that most people in their late 20′s and older never went to daycare, and “we” turned out just fine.
Daycare opportunities are numerous; however, as usual, I am high maintenance. Really, this time it has nothing to do with my personality, just Hubby’s and my non-traditional work schedules. Long story short, we do not need full-time daycare. So, formal daycare institutions do not allow toddlers who are still in need of a crib to attend part-time, Nannies are an option, but they require part-time schedule be consistent (which ours will likely not be)–same goes for home-based daycares, and I feel it’s too much to ask family since we all have lives. So, for now, I work from home with a 14-month old by my side. Although at some times, a nuisance, it’s become a routine. I truly believe I am the ultimate multi-tasker.
To at least provide The Buba with some stimulation and a shortened daycare experience, I finally decided to utilize our community recreation center’s baby care. This seemed like a perfect option. I can go workout, take The Buba with me, and he can have some fun with other kids. It’s inexpensive and only an hour. A win-win, or so I thought.
Yesterday, I made my move. I enter the baby care with The Buba and his diaper bag in tow. The impersonal baby care lady greets us, “Are you a member? Have you been here before?” I answer her questions and hope to see her reach for my pride and joy. But, she turns around and brings out an umbrella stroller. “I’m here by myself until 9:30 a.m. (it’s 9:00 a.m. when we arrive) and it’s too dangerous to allow him to crawl around,” she explains. “When my co-worker arrives, we will be able to allow him to play.” I’m a little deflated at this point, surrender the idea of watching My Buba interact, laugh and play with others for a half hour, and lean down to kiss him goodbye. But, he’s already been wheeled over to the other toddler in the stroller, who apparently can’t walk yet either.
With a little trepidation, but hope that in a half hour and when I return, I will witness the picture in my head, I tend to my workout. At 9:30 a.m., half-way into my “experience” on the treadmill, I exhale knowing my baby is crawling around, knocking into other kids, maybe getting pushed around himself, and just having fun. At 10:00 a.m., I race downstairs towards the baby care, excited to see The Buba. When I walk in, he’s still in the stroller. I could no longer hide my emotions, “He’s still in the stroller?” I asked. Without hesitation, the same baby care lady explains there are too many children in the center right now and for The Buba’s safety they had to keep him in the stroller. Not cool.
Needless to say, I will not be taking The Buba back to community center baby care until at least he’s walking. I was appalled. I didn’t need to pay $2.50 to have my son pushed in a stroller inside–I could have done that for free.
This was my first “daycare” experience and like any first time mother, I cried as I drove him home. Therefore, it’s extremely important to be picky when choosing a daycare and ensuring you get a warm and fuzzy feeling from those who will be caring for your child.
Apparently, I’m more of a “stay-at-home-mom” than I ever thought I would be.
