Okay, so I need a little help!! I have truly been blessed by having a job that I can take Ashalyn with me to. I'm a nanny in Archbold for a very nice family that has allowed me to take Ashalyn to their house. Everyone is telling me that this is the perfect job. But I struggle with it sometimes, let me explain. My ideal job would be to create my house into an educational environment and take in a few children to teach, almost like a preschool and I could still have Ashalyn with me. In college I took several early childhood education classes focusing a lot on children ages before they even get to school. There I learned every aspect of teaching children at an early age and all about their developmental milestones early in life. This is the age that excites me. Call me a nerd but my favorite thing about working in the daycare I worked in, was the HUGE messes the 2 year olds made painting and the 12 months old made when teaching them to eat with a spoon on their own. and POTTY TRAINING!!! That was I think my biggest enjoyment. To see every child get excited when they used the "big kid" potty. And for me to show all my excitement when one of them came in in "big kid" underwear. I am just so ready to have that back. I love my job, and love the kids that I watch, and REALLY love taking Ashalyn with me and spending the day with her. So, where's the problem?? Any toys I want for her I have to haul back and forth every day, she doesn't have her bed there so she sleeeps in her car seat or on a blanket on the floor all day, and I still have to do my job of cleaning the house, laundry, etc, so their is not the stimulation for her that I'd like. So, do I give up the opportunity of taking her with me and find a sitter, (which my job pays wonderful for being able to take her with me, but to pay for a babysitter on top of it, i might as well not work, honestly!!) to where at the sitter she will have more toys, more interaction, a place to lay, etc. and me worry non stop all day about whether she is okay or being taken care of. Or do I continue my job here, bring her along, and feel like I am failing because I am not stimulating her with the things I feel are important?
Like I said, my ultimate goal, when we have a bigger place to start my own little educational daycare right in my home. I want a room where we can have huge pieces of paper on the floor and paint to the music, or an infant climbing mat, or have our building blocks to teach Ashalyn and the other children the concept of size, color, cause and effect, etc. a play gym for her to lay on so she can stare at the colors, listen to the music, etc.
I truly feel like here she is not being stimulated enough and that is why she sleeps constantly during the day. At night I read to her, play with her, sing to her, show her her toys, etc. and she just coos away, smiling at me non stop and such a happy little girl! She stays awake almost all evening then til bedtime!! Here, i feel like all we have is the swing, which puts her to sleep and the few toys that I am able to lug along! She holds her rattles now and a few of her connecting toys, that she needs more things here!!
So back to my question, do I continue bringing her and just get used to her schedule, sleeping all day til it's time to go home, or do i do the dreaded of leaving her with a sitter so we can get her on a schedule at home in the evenings?? I wouldn't change my evenings at all....i love the time I get to spend with her reading to her, playing with her "baby" toys, bathing her etc. But i feel like I'm not doing all I could be with her when my time like that is rushed!!!
IF ONLY I HAD A BIGGER PLACE!!!! Then it'd be perfect!!!! I could have be with her all day and introduce her to the things I'd like to at her young age and as well as other children!! And can still make an income doing it!!!
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Our sweet Miranda
2 comments:
Interesting post…at the beginning you state that you work for a “nice family” yet towards the middle you include statements that lead readers to believe they are requiring you to lay your baby on the floor or in the car seat and that they do not allow time to care for your baby. Have you asked if it would be appropriate to lay the baby in another location or possibly keep a portable crib there? If they are accommodating you to bring the baby, why would they not allow you to make it more comfortable? You make mention to having a swing there. Do you lug that back and forth every day with the other toys or did you have to purchase two and they allow you to keep one there? Your friends and family are right when they say you are in the perfect situation. It appears that you are technically a stay at home mom but in someone else’s home and you are getting paid for it. What more could you ask for? This is certainly not a post you want other working mom's to read because they are not allowed this privilege. How many children are you watching each day with this family? Is there a way you could incorporate some of these stimulating activities into your daily routine with the children you are watching that would also be appropriate for your baby? I understand that there are other responsibilities you are required to complete, such as cleaning, laundry, etc. but if you were in your own home you would still have to do those things. There should be a way to balance the stimulation with the children (yours included) while still maintaining your other duties...nap or quiet time works best for me. As a matter of fact I am guessing this is something the family expects from you as a nanny. Every parent has to find a way to accomplish these tasks and still find time for their children, regardless of the child's age. You can't spend every minute of every day teaching and stimulating your child. Not only because there's no time but also because they do need time to rest. There is such a thing as over stimulation. The activities you discuss in your post actually sound like something most children would enjoy and depending on their ages, really assist with their development. One last comment, I find it very interesting that you believe your baby would have more stimulation with a sitter who is responsible for additional children than they would have being in your care all day. “To do or not to do”…talk to your employer.
to the anonymous comment,
Thank u so much for ur imput. The family I watched provided the swing for me so I didn't have to bring my back and forth!! They are so helpful in that sense!! With the stimulation I am talking about not having toys age appropriate for my baby!! I have been lugging back and forth my baby gym and my bouncy seat for her as of late which has made me feel much better about her being there. It is a pain, but it is allowing her to stay awake more and has something to keep her attention so I am not holding her all day. I do do the laundry and whatnot while the children are napping. I guess I didn't state it very well when saying that I do not want her just laying there with nothing to look at and get her little mind wondering. When I lay her on a blanket on the floor with nothing there to look at she falls a sleep, making for an awful sleep schedule!! We are going to try and how lugging our "home" toys back and forth daily works and see if that makes for a difference! Thanks again though for ur comment....hmm, now I just wonder who u r!! :-) Anonymous comments leave me wondering!!!
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