Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Brilliant Summer Parenting (Daycare)

My husband and I both work for schools, so we both have summer vacation off together every year.

As if you already don't hate us enough for that kind of set-up, we are true gluttons for continuing to take our child to day care in the summer.

Hold on, hold on, keep the stones in your pockets. He only goes to daycare part-time in the summer, AND I have lots of handy excuses to defend this choice and make it sound like we are brilliant parents.

Handy Excuses to Show That We Are Brilliant Parents:

1. This summer, at least one day a week while the maniac is at daycare, I will devote to writing on my novel. Finally. Someone's gotta get some work done around here.

2. Parker loves his friends at daycare and likes to see them a few days a week still. He is an only child. This is his chance to socialize and mingle.

3. We don't have to deal with separation anxiety because the daycare experience just continues.

4. It still costs less because he only goes part-time.

5. For two weeks in the summer, the daycare lady is on vacation. We also go on vacation for another week with the maniac in tow, which accounts for THREE whole weeks of complete and total 24/7 family time. After working full-time the rest of the year, this is quite the shock to the system, so BACK to daycare the maniac goes as soon as those three weeks are done.

We are in the second week right now of the three-week-no-day-care. Activities abound. Calories are burned. Thank god for nap time.


Photo from here

27 comments:

Anti-Supermom said...

Dude, being a child care provider, I vote for *not* telling your provider about you guys being home, cause it will cause all sorts of jealousy ;)

(Yes, I'm so stinkin' jealous!)

Kara said...

You're right. I hate you. But if I were to be honest, I'd do the very same thing in your situation. The problem is, I'm not in your situation and I still have to work every single stinking hot day of the summer.

(Jealous? You betcha!)

Jessica said...

You are so lucky! Enjoy your quiet time and I hope you get some writing done with your novel.

Unknown said...

No need to justify what you choose to do. I say more power to you!

gin said...

Good for you! Both my husband and I work for schools as well and we're just now getting out for the summer. We'll be traveling so much (to Colorado, even!) that we decided to pull him until late July. However, that first week of August before I work on my classroom, my boy will be spending his days in daycare and I will be basking in the last few days of freedom...

Jen said...

I think that you have a fabulous set up and if given the choice, I would do the same thing.

And get writing b/c I want to read your novel.

S.Greiner said...

When I was teaching I did the same thing...there were meetings that started up as early as late July and the whole taking them out and putting them back in was more stressful then keeping there!!! AMEN to summer daycare for teachers :)!

Natalie said...

Ha ha that is brilliant...I think I am going to copy your summer plan!

Babes Mami said...

Sounds like a fabulous setup and also makes total sense! Im a SAHM and frequently request daycare as a gift. No one believes me but i keep asking!

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

My BF is a teacher, and are her kids in daycare all summer? Hell yes! An don't let anyone make you feel bad--I'm a SAHM and my Kiddo is in day camp ALL summer. He is gone more now than during the school year. Get on that novel writing--I'll be joining you back on that venture next week.

Cheers.
VB

Tina L. Hook said...

I look forward to following your progress on that novel. Such an exciting venture.

Suniverse said...

Are you kidding? I sent the girl to preschool at 18 months. O.k., it was a mom & tot program, but still. The more we were apart, the happier everybody was.

Natalie said...

I'm VERY jealous! I'd LOVE to get rid of my kids, ahem, I mean give them the opportunity to grow and develop their social skills a few times a week. Alas, I just have to wait until Ethan starts preschool this fall and see how I can get rid of my girls too ;)

Deb said...

Ba.D.'s show doesn't film for a couple of months during the summer, but do you suppose we stop day care? Not a chance! Of course, it's fully because we'd lose our spot . . . no other reason beyond that . . .

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

That is great. Nap time is the best. I think that it will be so much fun having summers off with the fam.

MomZombie said...

As a stay-at-home mom, I am drooling with envy. I love my little one dearly, but 24/7 childcare can be wearing -- especially in the summer when all routines/school/programs cease.

Kat said...

Love this - I've been a huge fan of those gauzy cardigan-type wraps. Like, so elegant.

Alison said...

I think that is a GOOD plan. Happy Summer!

Annette said...

You are way too funny! I had my last two summers off, and this is the first official summer that I am working while having Little Lewie. It sucks big time. I had to introduce Little Lewie to a new daycare since the one he attended follows the college schedule and closes in the summer. He still hasn't stopped screaming and crying everytime I drop him off. He goes three days a week--two days I work, work...and one day I get to do errands and clean the house. I'm sure you have a similar routine even if you do get days off. It sounds pretty dreamy but I know its easy to find errands and chores to do when you'd rather be sitting home with your feet up watching reruns of Oprah...sigh!

Selena said...

I want to do it too!

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Oh please, girl. I'd throw stones at you if you didn't take the munchkin to daycare so you could, you know, uh BREATHE!!! :)

Enjoy your summer, though I am supremely jealous that you get the whole summer off...


Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com

Amy said...

I would totally send my son to daycare all summer even if I didn't have to work. He has fun there and finds me...well, boring. Also? I am SOOOO jealous you get all this time off, with NO kid at home, with your husband. I figure I'll see mine in about 18 years or so;)

Jess said...

Brilliant, indeed. If I didn't need daycare during the summer, I'd still be sending the little guy part-time too.

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