Planning for the new baby...

[mockingbirdq]

So already DH and I are having a debate about parenting this new little one.

I feel it is very important I be home and this baby NOT end up in daycare at 2 months old when the new school year begins. By the time I pay over 1K a month for daycare, and another few hundred for formula, I'll be making a scant $1,000 a month to pay someone else to raise my babe. Not something I want to do.

On the other hand, if I stay home with the baby for that year, we will literally be losing half of our income, and it will be a real struggle. On the other hand, I will be home with the baby each day, I can breastfeed exclusively, and I can pick up Fox when school ends each day so we won't have to pay for the afterschool care (saving another $300 monthly.) Not to mention that I would actually have time to cook, because we eat out and use convenience foods far too much right now.

We're going to try living on one income for the next six months and just see if it is possible. I know the thought scares Tomu to death, but I really feel strongly that 8 weeks is far too young for a baby to be in daycare and this baby deserves the same benefits of breastmilk that Fox had.

I have a feeling the next few months will be stressful as we hash this out...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/little_e_/]

Taking care of the baby can always be a temporary thing. I mean, save up what you can now, take off for as long as you can later, and then you can go back to work if you need to, after the baby's a little older.

[mockingbirdq.livejournal.com]

The problem is, as a teacher, I don't really have any short term options. Contract is for a school year, so if I don't want to go back to work in August when my maternity leave is up then I have to be off the entire year. Sub jobs or non-contract jobs don't pay as much and won't cover the expense of young infant daycare... I wish I could teach just 4 hours a day!

[http://users.livejournal.com/little_e_/]

Does non-contract include tutoring jobs? Maybe there are some homeschooled kids who'd appreciate your services and wouldn't mind your baby being with you??

[mockingbirdq.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. Even if it was only a few times a week that might supplement our income. Another friend suggested I do just afterschool care for a few kids since I'll have to pick up Fox at school every afternoon anyway. It wouldn't help much financially though...

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

If you're going to try living on one income for six months, does that mean you'll have six months of your income saved up for your maternity leave? That could really take the edge off.

I don't know how it works for you, but around here, I could come back in the middle of the year from a leave of absence if I gave a month's notice. Would it be possible for you to, say, stay home until Christmas or March Break and then go back for a few months if things are tight? Or do you have to actually quit your job in order to stay home?

[mockingbirdq.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we are trying to save up some money, which would help us survive - assuming no "God forbids" to wipe out those savings ;)

I'll check into that, but my understanding is no leave of absence is possible. I can take some additional unpaid weeks under FMLA, but I have a feeling my principal would find a way to get rid of me the second he realizes that's what I have planned. Our district is not maternity leave friendly at all...

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

So it's either accept a contract for the entire year, or don't accept a contract at all? That STINKS.

Will you have to reapply after the maternity leave, or will you at least have the right to come back to a job in that district?

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

that's a hard choice! Our mat leave is a year here so we have more time. 2 months is so young. I mean, you do what you have to do but I completely understanding wanting to have longer together before going back to work. :(

[mockingbirdq.livejournal.com]

I'm so jealous! Our maternity leave is only 6 weeks for a vaginal birth or 8 weeks for a c-section. No wonder most American women never breastfeed or only manage it a few weeks. Hardly enough time to get breastmilk established, and it is nearly impossible to find a workplace that will give you any privacy to accomodate pumping milk...

I just know it almost killed me to leave Fox is daycare at 9 months, and I can't imagine how hard it would be to leave a newborn there...

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

There's a reason breastfeeding is so much more successful in Canada. Something like half of women breastfeed for at least a few months, and about a third breastfeed exclusively for six months or longer.