working moms?

[2forme]

Hi! I'm new to this, with a pretty litle girl. Alyssa 2months old(DS), and an older brother Christian 2.6 years old. I am a working mom and I'm worried because it seems as if alot of moms stay home with their children. Will my baby progress like others because I have to work long hours. It really bothers me because I have to work.....

[Evans Dad]

Both my wife and I work full time - we have a son Evan who is 3yrs old. He has progressed just fine, in fact we always thought that he would progress a little better especially in a setting with typical developing kids. He has been in daycare since he was 3 months old and has done extrememly well. He has actually done so well over the past 6 months that he will be starting ECES at a regular school in August. We think his exposure to all kinds of different kids will really help him transition into the public school system. Therapists and professionals will still do their therapy outside the home - Evan's natural environment was considered daycare because that is where he has always been.

Congradulations on your little one - good luck

[momofrussell]

Well, I worked until Russell was 1 1/2 and Regan was 6 1/2. For us, I was kinda forced into being a SAHM because I was spending more time at home and at doc appts for BOTH kids... part of it was having a child w/spec needs.... and part of it was just typical kid stuff too. It just wasn't working out. If it did work out... I might still be working. I know PLENTY of moms that do work and their kids develope just fine My husband always wanted me at home anyway... and heck... it sounded good to me too LOL.. so we just had to do it. It was a struggle at first... but we then moved from CA to MO and it works out alot better for us here for me to stay home. I do have a p/t , very few hours, job... and it works out great for us.

I think it just depends on what your family needs... and within those needs... you just make it work... spec needs and all!

Hugs..... and welcome to Unomas!!!

A.

[Chris]

I was able to take a three year leave of absence from my teaching job when I had Sarah. It meant no pay or benefits for those three years and money was very tight but we managed. I had to go back to work a couple of weeks before Sarah turned three. I did not want to go back to work and still wish I could stay at home but it just isn't an option for us.

The truth is that when you work other people have to pitch in to make sure your child gets everything they need. We have not put Sarah in daycare or with a babysitter. My husband and I work our schedule so that she is either with one of us or at school. All you can do is find other people to love and care for your child when you can't be there. Don't waste your precious time or energy worrying about what you can't change. Alyssa and Christian will be just fine. Christian will probably be Alyssa's best teacher and motivator.

Congratulations on your new little girl!

Chris

[CC]

WELCOME TO UNO ;D

I worked outside the house from when Chris was 6 weeks old till he turned 4 and he did just fine My boss was very cool and anytime I needed to leave for any Doc appointments or therapies he was fine with that.

You asked, "Will my baby progress like others because
I have to work?"
I say to you
ABSOLUTELY

Looking forward to hearing more bout you and yours.

CC from New Jersey ~

[kristin]

To echo the others', "Welcome to UnoMas"!

I work full time teaching elementary school, and have 3 children, 11, 4 and 3. As you can see from the signature line, the 4 yo has DS. He has progressed just great. We had our two little ones with a nanny for the first 3 years, so they had a pretty sheltered life, as close to what being home with me would've been like. Now that they're older, they really enjoy going to our home daycare mom's house and playing with her two children, and getting a break from their mom and dad. Exposure to other kids and his childcare provider has pushed Cole's progress along probably further than what I could've done alone.

Now, with all that said, there are days when I would surely enjoy not having to jump into the rat-race first thing in the morning, getting everyone to school and daycare, etc. However, after I've been on summer vacation for a few weeks, I must say that I look very forward to the time when school starts again in the fall. It is certainly hectic, but my worries are not for Cole's progress, or lack of, but for my own sanity!

Good luck -- it will all work out just like it should!

[2forme]

:)Thank-you for the input and welcome. I am so used to doing everything by myself that when I do need to rely on somebody, I do not know how.

Just something else to overcome.

Glad to be here.
CR

[Kristin]

Clarice started daycare at 6 weeks of age. It's been a great experience for her and the other kids and parents as well. Therapists came to the daycare as well as worked with me. The daycare got some great free training on infant development, and still teaches all of the infants to sign "more, food, and water". Clarice has remained in daycare as she progresses through school. Some supervisors have been easier to work with than others, but we've always been able to work things out. During the infant years, the county sent a teacher to me once a week to show me how to do therapy. I trained the daycare workers to do some of it, and my husband and I did the rest. We work adaptive aquatics and horse back riding therapy into our weekends and summer time, but try to remember not to burn ourselves out. I think that Clarice's social skills have always been strong due to her contact with a wide variety of people. For me, being a working mom is a good experience. I find I need to be around adults and friends part of the day for my sanity. I've been lucky to be blessed by people who have enjoyed working with my daughter and found her needs to be challenging and educational.