So the Mr. and I have discussed truly looking for a more perm. childcare solution in April

GBCK

I don't have time to look before thenand I don't want to do this w/o taking the time to shop around--it's not like buffy is in a 'bad' place, it's just a frustrating place.

(aside on that topic,I a few weeks ago we asked MIL and FIL if they could please take her this friday, I have to work [normally it's my day off and this is my 'busy' time of year--I haven't left work before 8 pm this week and probably won't until, well, April].  They said sure.

They called the Mr last night with an 'whoops, we changed our mind, can't do it'

They did this to me last spring and I found backup for a month--this year my backup dropped out [I don't have the full story--if it were a true emergency, she'd help, but she's to swamped to be able to pull it off right now].  My folks will take her (this Friday and next) but the whole 'oh, it's only GB's job' lack of notice thing = nail in the coffin.  If they hadn't been so "PLLlllllease don't put her in childcare, we'll do it 1-2 days a week!" I'd be less annoyed)

Now back to work and less unreasonable ranting.

Wzz

oh i can relate to childcare issues. i thought i had a great childcare situation with the flaky DCP, but it just wasn't right for us after a while.

now we have a GREAT childcare facility even if it is not great for our schedules, but it's working out for us so far.

i forget who said this to me - it was either nico or hmo - you only need to settle on one DC. if it doesn't work out, she's too oyung to even remember.

it just seems like so much work trying to rely on family and friends, when a paid facility is going to give you reliable service without making you feel guilty about relying on them to keep their word to you. i thought the search for a DC would be more overwhelming, but it really wasn't that bad. i don't know about the options available where you are, but it's not bad to take that leap of faith and try someone out temporarily.

6fsn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_so-the-mr-and-i-have-discussed-truly-looking-for-a-more-perm-childcare-solution-in-april?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:ccf69fae-f8ec-4557-8fca-b87961e19552Post:83046942-7c7d-4105-80b1-bbb28f004a8f">Re: So the Mr. and I have discussed truly looking for a more perm. childcare solution in April</a>:
[QUOTE] it just seems like so much work trying to rely on family and friends, when a paid facility is going to give you reliable service without making you feel guilty about relying on them to keep their word to you. i thought the search for a DC would be more overwhelming, but it really wasn't that bad. i don't know about the options available where you are, but it's not bad to take that leap of faith and try someone out temporarily.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

This. 

GBCK

true true.  Unless they're beating her, I can't worry to much.

it's our schedules that make it difficult.  But even then, we're going to have to sort ths out sooner or later.

The Mr. hasn't been offered FT yet, but if he does and he takes it (to many factors, including my raise/change in paygrade, which boss's boss's boss [aka, my great-grand-boss] has been sitting on in spite of boss's nagging for 3 months), he'll no longer have 2 free workdays a week to be childcare but his schedule will become LESS flexible.

I know that I want to look at something that can transition her to preschool and I know more exposure to other kids will probably be good for her.  

I will stress like mad, but it will be OK.

Feel free to kick me in the head when I'm spouting nonsense about this next month.

*Barbie*

other than the recent biting issue, we have been very happy with our DCP. I would recommend looking up options near your home, and fining a day that you and the Mr. can take off together and just going and touring a bunch of daycares. They should be happy to see you as a walk-in, at any time of the day (although i would try to avoid drop off and pickup).

one thing that we found was that the quality of the website was often a good indicator of the quality of the facility. we ranked them based on website alone, and after the tours our rankings were basically the same.

GBCK

we actually should both have Friday mornings off, together, for the forseeable future, so we can visit together.

website quality--good call.  (I've found it true for churches :-P)

dharmabunny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_so-the-mr-and-i-have-discussed-truly-looking-for-a-more-perm-childcare-solution-in-april?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:ccf69fae-f8ec-4557-8fca-b87961e19552Post:cd20c002-117e-4a98-b208-bfdc4bf68281">Re: So the Mr. and I have discussed truly looking for a more perm. childcare solution in April</a>:
[QUOTE]we actually should both have Friday mornings off, together, for the forseeable future, so we can visit together. website quality--good call.  (I've found it true for churches :-P)
Posted by GBCK[/QUOTE]

I would also heavily recommend looking up your state's daycare inspection/certification website.  At least the one where I live, it's searchable by zip code, breaks down individual vs group vs drop-in daycares and gives overall ranking based on audits, inspections and compliance with state law

Then google a shortlist for any freakish news findings about the place (like, oops, they left an 8 month old in the daycare van in June.  In Tucson.)

It's not a substitute for looking with your own beady eyes, but it helps cull down the list a LOT.  Especially in larger metro areas.