Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Win the lottery and quit working, or....

Jeremy and I visited a daycare in our neighborhood this weekend –Tutor Time. So not an in-home but more of a facility. I’ll admit I’m a little apprehensive of those types of places (Kindercare, New Horizon, etc) due to bad press….but I was thoroughly impressed with this place.

First, their ‘programs’ seem right on track with what I would want: a daily/routine schedule that focuses on development. The infants are kept separate from the toddlers who are kept separate from the ‘older kids’. So the people looking after my baby are only interested in babies – not toddlers or school age kids. They’ll even teach baby sign language – which we definitely want to do at home. Basically, I want to ensure that wherever we drop our kid off for 9-10 hours a day will continue the same routine, values, expectations that we do at home.

Also, just the flexibly of the center is appealing. If someone is sick or needs a vacation, my child isn’t left without a day care provider. That is THEIR problem (hence, why I pay them), not mine (unlike with in-home where I would have to figure out a back up plan/provider).

However, as to be expected it is ridiculously expensive - $285 PER WEEK. So I will be talking to some in-home providers in my area…I have a referral for one that would only be $165 per week. But if I don’t find someone who makes me feel as comfortable as I felt with the Tutor Time program then I’ll figure out a way to make the extra $120 a week to supplement the difference!

And either way, bottom line… I already don’t want to give my baby up to daycare. I can’t imagine how hard it’ll be when I actually have to leave her. Although, I also have to admit that I think the interaction will be good for her. Either way, I'm still going to count on winning the lottery (but I guess I'll have to play it first).

5 comments:

Jessie said...

I know exactly what you mean. I visited a daycare facility in Isanti and it was nice but I already know it will be a teary-eyed (ok...cry really hard day) when I have to leave the baby there for the first day. In-home care is so much cheaper I am finding. I interviewed a woman today at her home - $30/day, but I guess that is what you get when you live out in the boonies! Finally, an advantage!

grandma said...

Maybe grandma needs to quit her job and do daycare

Miss Jess said...

Almost $300 a week???!!! Holy crap! No wonder my parents were broke growing up.I hope by the time I have kids I'll have interested grandparents who will soak up the idea of watching my little one. Phew... $300/wk. Yikes!

Amie and Carson said...

WOW!! We pay $150.00 for an in-home that we just LOVE! Luckily we found someone affordable right in our area and we liked her. The first few weeks are the hardest but it does get easier I promise! I think I cried the entire first week back to work!

Sarah said...

Ok, I will try to comment again since it didn't post my last one! GRRR! So I automatically say that you should trust your gut on this. If you interview some at-home daycares and you still feel like Tutor Time is the way to go, you should use them. I am sure you could find a way to afford it. We would just have to have less bar outings and more game nights! It's cheaper! :)
Anyway, I agree that is so important to know that your child would be learning the way you would teach them. I would want that as well. And I so get how you feel when you say giving her up will be so hard! I think I will be the type that sleeps in the same room with the baby at night and wake up every 5 minutes to make sure they are still breathing! Haha!