anprdp
Find a Conversation
anprdp
| Mon, 11-15-2004 - 11:13pm |
Hi!
I read your reply to glowstar about losing your mind while staying home with your kids. I'm 24 and stay at home with my 26 month old. I've learned to stay really busy with my 2 year old or I will lose my mind! My husband and I are thinking about conceiving again in the next few months, and im really afraid of not being able to leave our house in the first few weeks. I thought that was really kool you put your kids in daycare for one day out of the week! do you put them in all day or part of the day and do they like it? Any sugesstions for me about having a new born and 3 year old? thanks!
Katie
I read your reply to glowstar about losing your mind while staying home with your kids. I'm 24 and stay at home with my 26 month old. I've learned to stay really busy with my 2 year old or I will lose my mind! My husband and I are thinking about conceiving again in the next few months, and im really afraid of not being able to leave our house in the first few weeks. I thought that was really kool you put your kids in daycare for one day out of the week! do you put them in all day or part of the day and do they like it? Any sugesstions for me about having a new born and 3 year old? thanks!
Katie

Hi there! Sorry it took me so long to reply...I seem to have something come up everytime I sat down to write you back. First, let me say I think its wonderful you are considering your second!! I love babies so much! Second, I think you will have a much easier time with the age spacing you will have between your two. 3 to a newborn is a great difference to consider another because the older will be most interested in your new arrival. Most of my problems evolved from the first being a little over a year old and here was another one that wanted attention he also was wishing for. My advice would be this...going from one to 2 is a shock to your system. So be prepared that roses will not bloom at first but once you settle a routine (which as you know isn't always easy with a newborn) your daily schedule and life will be quite joyful.
I would recommend that closer to delivery you would maybe put your 3 year old in daycare (say month #8). Mostly because you will be much much mored tired by then and because you will want to share time up until birth one on one with your first born. Be sure to tour the facility and like the teachers and staff. Remember if you don't feel comfortable with the first impression find another place to look at. I leave my kids 1 full day a week (depending on if they are sick or not). But also a warning, they will get sick alot at first. Being at home with us (the moms) cuts down on alot of childhood infections kids normally get in this age range, so once introduced to them they seem to pick them up fast. You might wanna think about also having help once the baby is born for at least a couple of weeks. Most families will gladly pitch in, although I come from one that isn't so hot on the helping part. Another option (though somewhat costly in my book) is some nanny services offer help for new moms and new borns during this period starting at around 175 to 300 dollars a week. If you can afford that it is always a blessed option as well. You will need the help with the newborn..and will probably want to keep the oldest at home for the first couple of weeks as well. I say this because you won't want the child bringing home colds and such to your newborn at this point. My children like daycare most of the time. I know they get joy in seeing other children their age and not just each other. Of course there are times when they cry and make you feel bad, but as my husband and I have discussed...they will have to go 5 days a week when they are in school and its better to start a period of adjustment now then shock their systems later. My oldest only has a year and a half before he will start kindergarden so he needs to understand Mom can't attend school with him. I think you will find the break for them and yourself quite rewarding.
Most important though is remember you need a break too! Once the newborn is older (at your discretion) you might want to put both of them in at least a Mommy's morning out program to have some quality time to yourself without poopy diapers, screams, and other demands they make upon us. Like you I love my children dearly..almost died having the last one..but I too am only human and need some time to myself that I don't get unless I have an option to take a break. The good thing is if I don't feel like taking them..I don't have to! So its the best of both worlds. Eventually after you have the baby and get to know his/her habits you can revolve your routine around both children instead of the youngest. That was where my hard times fell in...The one year old always wanted me at the same time the littlest did and yet he wasn't mature enough to understand that the second needed me more at that moment. I think you will have lots of fun and comfort in your new family to be when you get ready to do so. Good luck! I wish you all the best if this wasn't helpful I am also sorry due to the fact Philosophy has fried my brain after a bomb of a test I took tonight..lol..
Angelia
Mother of 2 boys
Nursing student for L&D
Thank you SOO much for your reply :) I might hold on putting my son in daycare for right now, we go to the YMCA and they watch him in a daycare setting for 2 hours while I workout/shower. My son is really prone to getting sick, he was in the hospital at 6 months with RSV. He looks really healthy, he's a big boy, weighing 9.2 when he was born but somehow he developed an asthmatic condition. So, when he gets sick it goes right into his chest causing him to wheeze.
I absolutely LOVE working out, so this will be somewhat of an adjustment when we decide on having another child(we're thinking about trying in Feb!) But, my husband said he would watch the baby at night while I go workout, so thats really kool! Plus at the Y they have a preschool program for 3 year olds, and my son will be 3 in Sept. They go 2-3 days a week from 8-12, they bring them swimming, etc...it's really just to get them ready for preschool, so I think he will really like that. When I had my son I rarely went anywhere by myself, I think it's something when you have your first child, you feel guilty leaving them. But, not now! I'll make myself go out by myself to workout, grocery shopping, because I know how much better it makes you feel. A little scared about adding an addition because my son is awesome and we have a great time together. But, i definantely want one more child, if not 2 more. Thank you soo much for your help!
Katie
your son seems to have it a little worse than mine. Thankfully he hasn't had any attacks, just when he gets a cold, he wheezes, and his chest is really congested. So, we just have to bring him in to the dr. as soon as we start noticing a cold coming on. yeah, we use a nebulizer, we're soo glad we got that because everytime he gets a cold, we use that about 4 times a day and really seems to help him. :)