Mother’s guilt is live and well at my place. I went back to work for three days a week when the girls were only 4 months old. I didn’t think too much of it as they were good babies and I only had them in childcare for one day. Daycare was across from work and I could drop by when ever I wanted. My mum and N were available to cover the other few days. Since then we have needed to readjust childcare as my work increased and N returned to full time work. Today I am finding it difficult. The girls are almost 9 months and we have them in childcare for two days and family daycare for one day. Besides that it is THREE days of paying for two children in childcare the most important thing is I am missing out. Other people have their routines and report on how the girls are going and although I keep telling myself that three days would be the complete limit, it is too much.
Mummy with Moana and Adelaide. 3 Months old.
Friday is my day. Friday is supposed to be my day to be a mum and spend time with my children but I confess lately it is a day filled with cleaning, emailing, laundry and shopping. Compared to daycare days where I hear the girls play, eat and sleep my day seems to be rush, busy and rush. I have read some emails and posts while trying to re-examine my goals and priorities as I think now something has to change – perhaps leave the chores to when they sleep and spend quality time when awake. They are growing up so fast; nine months old in a few days.
My annual leave is starting to dwindle so I need to make the jump officially to part-time and at the moment it is a bit of a psychological barrier – cut my salary 20% to be with the babies. I know it sounds terrible as it should not be barrier but things just are not working the way it is.
How do you juggle childcare with working and how do you spend your days with the kids?