Work vs Children Part 2: I Chose My Kids

So, I was laid off yesterday. 

Not relevant, this pic just makes me smile

Its fine. I knew, when I couldn't move into a full-time position with terms & conditions that wouldn't allow me to deal with school pick up and drop off, that they might lay me off. While it always stings a little bit to hear "your services are no longer required," I know its the right thing.

Life is change - the company I spent 7 years with is changing, my kids' needs are changing, and, with her permits, Dear A's needs are going to change too. So, I'm embracing the change and looking forward to the next phase of my working mom life - something that will allow me to still contribute to the economy, my family, help our nanny, and still raise good kids. Tomorrow. Today, I'm giving myself a break to grieve and absorb.

Work vs. Children and the Childcare Dilemma

If only he could drive himself, right?

There's a Globe and Mail article today about daycares offering night care. Between it, and our current struggles, I'm very interested in how child care/ work hours will shift as economic factors force more parents to work, technology allows more flexible ways to work, and baby boomers retire.

K's getting older and goes more regularly to school (which at this point means an awkward 2 hours, midday) we're struggling with how to manage drop-offs and pick-ups now that I'm needing to work more hours. Dear A doesn't drive and K's current school is 1 hr away by transit (sidebar: this in itself is ridiculous, since its only 8 mins away by car) so without flexible work schedules, we're looking at 2 kids on the bus for about 2 hours each day. Plus while K's in school Dear A and the baby would what? hang out at a coffee shop? All this with a nanny - I can't imagine the struggles for shift workers.

I think we need not only a solution, but a shift in the way we think about the problem.

Bye Bye Baby

My baby girl's first word was "Bye!" complete with pudgy little waving hand. Yup, a gut-wrenching, heart-ripping, "Bye!"

My little one, my last baby, has grown up with such a stream of comings and goings that the first thing she has learned is to say goodbye. She says is pleasantly, with a smile and sweet face. She seems ok with it, knowing already, that we eventually come back.

Its good, I guess, that she's ok with us leaving.