My baby goes off to big school next year. In 2 weeks we will no longer be a family using daycare. My eldest child is almost 10, and I first put him in to daycare when he was 6 months old. So, for 9 and 1/2 years, I have paid money every single week for 1, 2 and then 3 children to be in daycare.
I’ve used Long Daycare Centres, Family Daycare and Pre-School over the years. At one stage I had 2 children in care 4 days a week when I was working as a Real Estate Agent. In periods over those years I felt like I only worked to pay the daycare.
I’m glad it’s coming to an end. It’s been a hard slog and a very expensive exercise.
I feel like I’ve finally paid off some sort of loan. It’s been a payment that I’ve made every week for almost 10 years, and finally it’s ending.
In hindsight, what did I get out of it? I had a couple of jobs, learnt some new skills and kept my sanity in tact. But this didn’t come cheap. I guess I could go on and on about the importance of women in the workplace, but who am I telling? You already know all of this! The part where I feel bad is for those Mummy’s just starting out with their kiddies. I heard on the news yesterday that daycare costs may rise by $40 a week for some families…
As I said, it feels like a loan families are paying off. You pay it and pay it and pay it, just so you can keep yourself in the workforce and bring home a little extra $ each week.
So, for me, in 2 weeks, that loan has finally been paid off.
There is a new phase coming in our house. 5 days a week I will have my 3 boys all in the same place (not to mention only 1 place to drop off and pick up!).
Share with me your daycare dilemmas.
Do you feel like you work to pay the daycare?
