Your family dinner time

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Hi there, I'm in 100% agreement with the other caregivers comments posted here. My last daycare babe heads home for the day at 5:15 P.M. and that last half hour (4:45 to 5:15 P.M.) when I am just caring for her alone is the hardest part of my day. It doesn't matter that she starts up at 8:45. The reality is my other babies arrive at 7:30 - and most of them are finished their day here by 4:30-4:45. By the time 5 P.M. rolls around I am beat ! At some point parents should realize if they need extra long hours, they need a daycare centre where there are multiple caregivers who can work in shifts. Who's at their best after 9 and a half hours ? =) I have turned down prospective clients who wanted a late pick up - 6 P.M. or 6:30 - because of the dinner-time dilemma. In my opinion a 6 P.M. pick up is just too late. While I am your child's caregiver, I am also a person, and a Mom. I need to eat my own meals and still have enough time in the evenings to prep school lunches, or pick up fresh fruit for the next day's lunch for the daycare kiddies. And Heaven forbid, that my own children might want to participate in an activity - i.e. swimming lessons, Brownies, etc. I also admit to thinking (if the parents want the child to be here for really long hours) "Why don't I just adopt your child - I'll send you a yearly card and pictures. If the extent of your daily interaction with your son/daughter is that you get them up in the A.M. and drop them off here, and then pick them up, take the child home, and put them to bed, why did you become a parent ? " LOL If a parent challenges my hours/is trying to push for an extra long day, I politely explain that I am prepared to work for 9.5 hours a day - that gives them ample time to commute to and from their work. That's perfectly reasonable. At some point in time, it's no longer about money - it's about needing to be "off the clock" and have your own life so that you can get up again the next day and do it all again with a smile ! =D