Working Mommy 101

I've spent the last four months experiencing the "full-time working mom" phenomenon. Apparently, it has overtaken my life so much that I felt the need to begin a blog about it. This has been an entirely new experience to me...being a first time mom, then working full time while still trying to be super mom. There have been nights that I've cried to my husband about selling the new house we bought in Granger, and downsizing our lives so that I may stay at home and raise babies (yes, I realize that's plural. More on that in later posts.). Being the voice of reason in that conversation, my husband always uses the "playing hard" scenario with me. We work hard, so we can play hard with our family. I get that. I was blessed to have grown up in a family that had the opportunities to take family vacations, provide me with my first car, pay for my college, etc . My husband and I want the same for our family. So, although I've struggled hard with it, I am finally at peace with the fact that I will have to work in order to help provide those fun and amazing opportunities for my family.

As many of you know, I'm currently in my first year of teaching. My classroom is a self-contained classroom of emotionally disabled students in the elementary school setting. I won't put all the details out there on the Internet for various reasons, but it's been a rough first year. I'm getting anxious about hopefully returning to my "secondary teaching roots" (junior high/high school) next school year....please keep your fingers crossed for me on that one :) On a happy note, I have made a wonderful friend this year that has really helped my "hobble" through the year in my current position. My program assistant, Gena, has been a wonderful friend and colleague to me this school year, and I am forever grateful to have her in my life! She is an amazing, selfless person who works so well with the students in my room. I will be very sad not to see and talk to Gena five days a week after the school years ends, but hopefully we will keep in touch.

Back to the working mommy challenge - ours days are crazy around here! Right now, our daycare situation is VERY fortunate. Between my husband's work schedule and my parents, we haven't had to put out a dime in daycare expenses. I've also gone to work a little easier knowing Max was in good hands for the day. We are now reaching a point, though, where I feel as though Max really should have the daycare experience - as well as not abusing the generous baby-sitting my parents have given us for free! Max LOVES others kids, so I know he would really enjoy the social aspect of daycare. My few issues, though, are as follows:

• I want an educationally-based daycare. Being a teacher, this is extremely important to me (and my husband). I don't want my son sitting there watching TV all day....I want him to have fun, but I want him to be learning his ABC's and numbers as well. Also, I would love some help with the potty training when that begins :)
• I need it to be somewhat affordable. I priced one of the well-known day-cares in town last year, and it was freaking $800 a month. AND they required you to pay for the full five days a week, regardless of if you needed five days a week or not. Between my husband and parents, we only need about three days a week.
  
• Proximity. Although my work location is not definite for next school year as of right now, I would still like something pretty conveniently located to my house (in Granger). Especially when it's 7:00AM in the dead middle of winter and I need to drive Max to day-care and myself to work...not really down for a huge commute here.
  
• Reputation. Although I am not completely opposed to at-home day-cares, they do worry me. I, personally, do not know anyone who runs an at home day-care, which makes me leery to drop my child off at a strangers home. Now, if I knew of someone who had a day-care like this, I would absolutely take Max there. Since I don't, though, the idea scares me, and I think I may feel more comfortable with a more reputable establishment that has a reputation to uphold. This, off course, means I am probably going to pay a lot more.

I could really use anyone's help here! Anyone know of any good day-cares in this area?

Well, I think I've written enough for my first blog. I think you guys should become a follower so I feel special about this whole blogging thing :) I'm off to enjoy the remainder of my three-day weekend with the family!