Just when I had made peace with the situation....now WTD??

[ladylonghorn]

Seriously, I need a girls night and some wine.

For those that didn't read my intro...our childcare situation blew up 2 weeks ago when our beloved nanny of 2.5 years turned in her 2 week notice. Given it's middle of the school year AND she is part time (33 hrs one week, 24 hrs other weeks), finding another nanny that fits our needs wasn't exactly cut and dry.

DH wanted to put our 3 year old DD2 in full time preschool/daycare and "gain back our house" (He and I both WFH FT). I wanted to try to find a replacement nanny and finish out the school year. It's not just consideration for DD2, but we also have a 9 and 6 year old that get picked up from school every day by the nanny.  There is no busing option and they could walk but it is about 1.6 miles.

Our first choice preschool said they were full and wouldn't have an openings until June.  I didn't think it would be good to pull DD2 out of her current 2 day a week preschool to put her in a 2nd choice preschool for 4 months and then move her again. So we compromised...I called back a prior nanny that had worked for us for 2+ years back in 09 - 11. We had "terminated' the relationship with that nanny when I went on maternity leave and b/c DH had been laid off. It was good timing b/c my patience with her had worn out. The reasons....she was not adhearing to my requests and getting lax with discipline, giving too many goodies and was becoming forgetfull (she is in her 60's). I was never concerned for their safety and I know she loved (overly) my kids.

The previous nanny was totally ok with the hours and it being just a 4 month gig. Only real challenge is she isn't able to start until Feb 9. Between back up care offered through my work, DH and I and my mom and current preschool, we were going to make it through the two weeks.

And now today (the last day of our current nanny)....our desired preschool calls and says they can start DD2 on 2/16  - - - SERIOUSLY..yet another wrench to consider. So my options....

1. Delay preschool (appearnetly you can delay starting 1 time and hope the timing works out closer to the end of the school year). Keep with the plan to bring back old nanny, DD2 stays in current part time preschool - - all stays the same.

2. Take DD2 out of preschool (maybe delay 2 weeks - - which is allowed), start new preschool in March, let the big kids start walking home.

[supertrooper1]

1.6 miles seems like an awful long way for a 6 and 9 year old to walk by themselves. And I don't know where you live, but weather could be a big factor. Is there a chance that you would lose your spot if you delayed starting the preschool? I'm inclined to vote for switching DD2 to the preschool now, but pick your kids up from school instead of letting them walk.

[mommyatty]

What were you going to do next school year? Seems the kids walking home is the only problem here. Can you pay someone to bring them home? Go pick them up? have them walk with a mom in your neighborhood picking them up? That is a pretty long way to walk alone when you're only 6 and have short legs. But put the little one in the new school. I think that one is a no-brainer.

[ladylonghorn]

Well, I say 1.6 b/c that is the driving distance. It would certainly not be as much walking since there is a walking path through the neighborhood. Here, there is no bus service for under 2 miles, so very common for walking and we are in TX, so weather is not a big issue. If it was really bad, then DH or I would pick up.

[2chatter]

I would not have them walk; I am in TX in a pretty decent area and there was an attempted kidnapping yesterday (creepy man with moustache, white van, nine year old boy - exactly what I think of when I hear the word "kidnapping").
My kids walk but I can literally see them from the crossing guard to our front door.

Is there after care at the kids' school? Here's something to consider longer term. The nine year old will be in what, 4th next year, and 5th the year after...but when the 9 year old moves into 6th, would you have the six year old walk alone?

(we are starting the hunt for an after summer school and after school during the school year nanny shortly for this reason - my 10 year old goes to jr high next year and I am not down with the tobe second grader waking alone)

[gamora24527]

Could you afford to switch DD2 to the full time preschool but use your old nanny to pick up and care for the kids after school? I'm all about kids having freedom and such, but six seems kind of little to walk home that far.

[twinmomma]

Oh man! In your case I think I'd go with the new preschool. It seems like the cleaner, easier switch At this point. I hope it all works out!

[Deleted]

I tend to be overly cautious, but, I would not let my six and nine year olds walk home that far themselves. Especially the six year old. I too have a six year old, and she's grown a lot more mature this year, but definitely still needs to be reminded to watch for cars, and about stranger danger, etc. There is no way I'd let her walk home herself.

I'd go ahead and start DD2 in the preschool and ask part time nanny if she'd be willing to pick the kids up after school, do their homework with them, maybe get dinner started and/or pick the little one up from preschool too.

Alternately, like PP mentioned, enroll DD2 in preschool now and consider latch key for the older 2. Im sure it varies from school to school, but my oldest goes to latchkey and loves it.

I don't think you mentioned- but what's your plan for summertime when the older two are out of school?

Good luck! Balancing childcare with multiple aged kids in different schools, has been a big challenge for me, too.

[mustardseed2007]

If having the one child in the first choice preschool and having the nanny just be an afternoon nanny who does pick ups and stays with the kids until you get home is an option, that's what I would do. 

I'm a little confused on one point - are the kids walking home and then staying home alone? Or are they walking home to someone? 

I would be concerned not only about the walk, but also about what they would be doing when they got to the house. Over time I would think they would get into with each other if nothing else. Not to mention stranger danger. The 10 year old might get it, but I wouldn't trust the 6 year old and I wouldn't trust a 10 year old to be a great supervisor every single day. 

[librarychica]

I would def put the youngest in preschool.

I actually wouldn't have a problem with the walk for the older two depending on the circumstances -- in our old neighborhood kids walked in a huge group, with several parents of the younger ones around, bracketed by what looked like half the county's crossing guards. In that situation I would be ok with it. I think I would still put them in after-school care if that was an option, though, to keep them busy and supervised. You work from home, right? I thought I remembered that. I would think a good after-school program would be a better option. That's our plan for when the kids go to school because though H works from home he can't really be available many afternoons.

[mustardseed2007]

Jan 26, 2015 22:02:50 GMT -5 librarychica said:

I would def put the youngest in preschool.

I actually wouldn't have a problem with the walk for the older two depending on the circumstances -- in our old neighborhood kids walked in a huge group, with several parents of the younger ones around, bracketed by what looked like half the county's crossing guards. In that situation I would be ok with it. I think I would still put them in after-school care if that was an option, though, to keep them busy and supervised. You work from home, right? I thought I remembered that. I would think a good after-school program would be a better option. That's our plan for when the kids go to school because though H works from home he can't really be available many afternoons.

Oooooh-you wfm! That makes a difference. Could you meet them half way? 

But overall all I still think an afternoon program or mothers helper would be best just to keep them out of mischief. 

[ladylonghorn]

DH and I both work from home, so it's not a matter of someone being at the house when they get here it's a matter of them getting from school to home. There are a number of kids who walk and even some parents that walk too. I've actually done some thinking and will block my schedule so I walk to meet them half way. It actually works out good this way so that I get enough steps in each day.

As far as preschool, everything is now worked out. DD2 will start the full time preschool in March after we return from our spring break cruise and our old nanny is ok just coming back for about 4 weeks. This way I can give proper time to "unenroll" DD2 from her current preschool and classes.

[toratoratori]

I'm so glad to hear everything worked out!