To all the mothers ...how do you REALLY feel about putting your baby in daycare everyday?

Question

I understand we have to, but sometimes it makes me feel like crap! For all those hours I am away from my child, and she is being cared for by someone other than me. It's so crazy, I hate it sometimes and I miss all day! Anyone else ever feel like this? Including Dads?

Answer 1

Well, I can sort of relate. In fact, once our daughter was born, the idea of leaving my baby in daycare appauled us so much that we decided to make a few financial sacrifices so I could stay home and care for her. For us, its been well worth it. I now have a home business that allows me to contribute financially as well. My husbands career is going well, but still allows him a fair ammount of family time. Our daughter is now 2 years old, and everyone has always complimented us on how happy and calm she is. She still gets social activity with her numerous cousins, but I get the satisfaction of knowing my daughter is being nutured and taught the way we want. I know a lot of moms who do home daycare, and take in a couple of older children (who are usually easier), to help pay the bills. I do commend you for all your hard work, and I know it must be heartbreaking sometimes. I look at my sister in law who only sees her son for an hour a day, and I just cant imagine that life. I see a thousand ways they can cut back financially, so she could at least work LESS, but apparantly they cant live without chinese takeout and lattees. Ah well. I grew up in a home where my parents worked all the time too. Fortunately, my grandparents watched me, instead of a sitter. I still look back on my childhood rather sadly though, because all my memories are with my grandparents rather than my mom and dad. I know they were trying to do what was best for us, but growing up, especially as a teen, I was extremely bitter that they were gone so much. I bet, that if you really dug in and looked at your life, you could find a way to make staying at home, or at least working less, work. As a child who had 2 working parents, I can tell you, I would have much rather had less stuff and more time with my family. Thats what I intend to give my children. We still live well, just smarter.

Answer 2

I had to work when my oldest was almost a year. I was a wreck. I worked for over a year and cried everyday, every time I dropped him off and every time I thought of him all day. I didn't have a choice and I felt so guilty and miserable. I now have to stay home as I have epilepsy and we have yet to be able to control it. My husband is completely okay with leaving our boys for the day. If he knows they are well-cared for he really enjoys the time away. He loves coming home and having them excited to see him. He doesn't like the thought of missing big stuff like first steps but he doesn't mind missing each and every diaper...lol.
Try not to listen to all the drama about working vs staying at home. We are all moms and we need to support each other. If you have to work, or choose to work, be happy and proud that you can do that for you kids and know that many of us stay-at-home moms understand and don't think you a bad mom for leaving the kids at daycare. For those of us that are stay-at-home moms, just know that we struggle with money and often feel guilty for sacrificing money so that we can stay home and feel a bit pushed aside by society as worthless.