Have any of you left your job to SAH and pulled your LO out of daycare? What did you do with your LO during the day instead? How did they adjust to no longer going to "school"? Or did you decide to keep them in "school" even though you are at home?
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when my girl was 1 1/2 I started working and did so for about a year and a half. then we relocated and i became a SAHM. lots of time at the library, we have a country store that has farm animals, small playground and a cafe which is fun to just hang at in nice weather. she has a good library of books, her own playroom with her art stuff in there as well. we have a tv but aren't big on watching much but pbs kids during the day helps when I need that hour just to myself, cleaning something meticulous or just taking a shower.
she's a doll so it was overall a decent transition. now she's in pre k which is three hours and all day kindergarten is next year. things to look forward to! -
If I ever decided to SAH I would still keep my daughter in preschool 3 days a week since I think the education and socialization are important to prep her for kindergarten.
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@andthewildones: That sounds fun!
How was her transition to Pre-K after being home with you for a while?@Truth Bombs: How old is she? If I were to SAH in the near future I would probably pull my 18 month old out of part-time daycare and do "Mommy & Me" classes like Gymboree or Music Together, but we would definitely do preschool when she got a little older.
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@daniellemybelle: 2.5, but even at 1.5 I would have left her in part time. I think she really does benefit from socializing with her peers without me around.
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@daniellemybelle: maybe you can keep doing the mother's day out, but only do 2 mornings a week or something?
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@Truth Bombs: Same. I think the socialization is good for him. Plus, I don't think I'm cut out to be a SAHM full-time. That takes nerves and patience and stamina that I simply do not have.
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I agree with @Truth Bombs: I think the socialization is very important. Not to mention I know if she would get bored with me at home. I am not that creative to come up with new stuff/activities/art for her to do each day.
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@daniellemybelle: my story is different. I quit my job because my son got kicked out of daycare for biting. I've been home with him for a year. We do lots of activities, story time at library, little gym, play groups, swim lessons, soccer, etc. He starts preschool this fall twice a week half days. Fingers crossed are biting phase is over.
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@daniellemybelle: my guy has a big family so I would say that paired with our outings kept her very well socialized. beside an odd morning here and there where she simply doesn't want to get up early, she loves school! she's kind of a breeze on a lot of aspects, our second babe is due in a few weeks and I've been teased that i will have an actually challenging child this time around.
you're currently a SAHM? -
@Anagram: This is hypothetical
But in this hypothetical situation, we would be moving and would have to find a new school and help her adjust to that.@BandDmommy: That's rough but it sounds like you are having fun! Hopefully the biting phase is over!
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@andthewildones: No, I currently work part-time & LO goes to daycare two days per week and is with my mom the other two days.
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@daniellemybelle: I hope so!!!
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@Truth Bombs: @littlebug: @Smurfette: The socialization is a good point but I do think you can get that through classes & play groups! After a year of sending LO to daycare (we have fluctuated between 2 and 4 days per week) I am not convinced that at this young age, the socialization without a parent present is always key. LO seems much more willing to go play and have fun and be herself when she knows I am nearby, even after a year of school. (I say this based on what her teachers share and secretly watching her on the playground.) But every child is different.
Edited to add: I am really interested in hearing from moms who did this and how it went! I know if this were us, we would have to hit the ground running to find lots of activities and playgroups because currently we have that built in every week. I think establishing a routine would be really important too.
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I think it depends on finances...if I could afford to keep LO in part time day care I would do that, so I would have some days free to run errands, drs appts, etc.
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@hilsy85: My feeling right now is I would rather spend that money on activities we could do together versus childcare. Especially considering that in this hypothetical scenario we would move and have to find a new school and adjust to that which would be stressful. One benefit of SAH would be to avoid that stressful transition right after another transition of a move.
But I say that now - I don't know what it's like to be a SAHM and with your LO 24/7!
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@daniellemybelle: well, would you still have your mom be able to watch her 2 days a week? If so then I think that negates the need for daycare! My LO has been home with me since birth and is VERY well socialized (as well as a 2.5 year old could be) between playdates, trips to the park, and classes.
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@hilsy85: No, we would live too far away
I am going to have to pony up for Gold again because this post was supposed to be totally hypothetical, haha!
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@daniellemybelle: ah ok...well I don't know that you necessarily need part time day care but as a SAHM it would be hugely helpful for me to have a sitter for a few hours a week so I could do things that are a lot easier to do without LO in tow! But I'm sure you'll figure it out..hypothetically
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@daniellemybelle: If we could swing it, I'd still send H to daycare part-time or a MDO program if I was a SAHM. She enjoys it and it would make it easier to get errands done or clean the house.
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I would pull my 18 month old..my son didn't begin going to daycare until he was 2 and those 6 months weren't a benefit to me, I don't think.
If I were a SAHM, I wouldn't have started preschool until 3, and even then, part time.
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@looch: I am thinking in this scenario we would do part-time preschool next fall when she is 2 years 10 months. If I wanted to go back to part-time freelancing sooner and/or have time to run errands we would probably get a babysitter who could keep LO in her routine and take her to the classes we've signed up for. Currently we can't afford a babysitter/nanny as opposed to daycare but in this scenario we probably could.
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@daniellemybelle: I pulled DD out a 14 months and became a SAHM once we moved. I think she handled the transition really well. She is now 2 1/2. We have a gym daycare where she goes for like an hour a few times a week, and has never given me a problem with going there, and I really feel like that is because of daycare, and she and I have established that I might leave her for a bit but I come back. She also does this with her gymnastics class which isn't Mommy and Me anymore. We spend our time on a few structured activities a week but also playdates and events through the local moms club and with friends we've made since moving here.
The other part is that because she's been with me and me alone since 14 months old, she's really content on a lot of outings, so we go to the grocery store, run errands, even go to the mall to shop for me (!!) together. It's not as relaxing as it could be of course but she's used to it and is really fun to have along. -
@BandDmommy: what?!?! My daughter has 2 biters in her class (6w-18months) and she got bit yesterday for the first time. I Was kind of mad (at teachers not kid or parents) because no one noticed or told me (I saw the mark when I got home) but I know another child who was 6 months left after being bit twice. i can't believe he got kicked out for that!
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If finances allowed it I would definitely keep her in two days a week. She's just so used to it because it's what we've always done. She loves her friends! She's 3 and has been on three then two days a week for a year because I got laid off. I've been at temp jobs off and on. She really looks forward to days where she has "school". She asks me if she has school tomorrow and gets sad when she doesn't. I'm sure it's completely different if your child was always home with you from the get go. I also think there is a different set of socialization skills learned away from parents and in a structured environment like daycare / preschool. My nephew has never been in school and is plenty socialized because my SIL has tons of friends with kids. But he is in for a rude awakening for preschool next year. Mommy and grandma won't be there for tantrums he will have to listen to teachers. Follow directions. People won't be spoon feeding him. LOL
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@catomd00: loooooong story... At the end of be day, daycare didn't work for him
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@hilsy85: get a mothers helper! We have one once a week. Gives me 3 hours to myself to do errands, etc...
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@BandDmommy: I really need to, especially with LO2 on the way! I do have my MIL come once a week which is nice.
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@looch: I would do the same. I WAH PT and have DD in A 2day a week preschool at age 2, but if I didn't do any work, I would pull her until 3 or 4 for preschool. I like that she gets socialization but mostly I like having the time to work. If we didn't need that, I'd probably have her in more classes that we did together and apart.
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As long as we could afford it, I would keep DS in daycare at least 1 day per week. He loves it so much and learns a ridiculous amount, there is no way I could provide that through playdates and activities!
How was her transition to Pre-K after being home with you for a while?
But in this hypothetical situation, we would be moving and would have to find a new school and help her adjust to that.
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