Kathy emailed this to me on our first day at daycare. Lucy looks a little shocked but still it made me feel so good.
'How to work from home with an infant?'
I've Google-searched it and really didn't find much in regards to actual experience, so here's mine. Maybe another mom can glean something from my time.
Lucille started daycare at home with a nanny (my stepdaughter Ashley). We loved it! We didn't have to rush around getting ready just to go to work and take Lucy to daycare. Lucille was always at the house, so we could play around with her and continue to work until Ashley left for the day. It allowed more freedom for Lucille and for us as parents.
When Ashley took a position with another employer, we had to find a different childcare option. I spent the next month looking for a daycare in town who I could really trust.
I had a list of considerations for each potential provider:
-Is it in a house or facility?
-Is there a lot of space for children to play? Are there plenty of toys to play with? Are the toys age-appropriate?
-Is there a specific room for infant naptime?
-Is naptime and scheduling important? At my house, sleep is essential to everyone's happiness and survival.
-Did I feel comfortable? (or, more bluntly, did I like them?)
-Did I feel safe?
-How many other children are they caring for, and what is the age range of the children?
-How did they handle meals? What do they traditionally feed the kids?
-How much does it cost? How far is the provider from my home?
These were just the things that I could think of off the top of my head. There’s a lot to be said for a mother's instinct- go with your gut. It's your child, so don't compromise on your wants and make sure it's right for your family in every way.
As much as I wanted to avoid it, daycare is necessary. I do try to minimize the time she spends there, though, and here’s how:
-I feed Lucy breakfast at home, which means the only meal she has at daycare away from me and her daddy is lunch.
-I work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ve had the luxury of having Ashley around to watch Lucy at my house while I work, so Lucy is able to sleep in her own bed and be with a family member as much as possible.
-I prioritize work into categories of things that must be done during the workday, when people are at the office, and things that can be done at night. I often have a date with my computer after Lucy is put down for bed. This allows me more time with her during the day.
-Whoever gets home first goes and picks her up from daycare.
Actual work-from-home advice: set up an office space for yourself. Mine happens to be in our spare bedroom closet. My office is pretty simple, just a desk, chair, and all the office items I might need. Get the tools to allow you to work from anywhere in the house.
My tool list:
- Wifi
- Tablet with fold-out keyboard
- Power cords
- Cell phone
- Cell phone Bluetooth headset
- Remote access to all my work email and office systems
My experience with daycare so far has been great. Since I had to return to work, I've had Lucille's daycare or nanny keep a log of her days. They’ve been willing to fulfill all my requests of reports or emails about Lucy's activity. The logs let me know what her day is like when I'm away, and also help me see when she might be getting ill or breaking teeth. Communication and trust are the two things we'd be lost without.
What are your experiences with choosing a daycare? How have you managed working from home with your kids?
