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- kim nakahodo - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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This is what my daycare provider wrote on her Facebook page last Monday.
Backgrounder: Her husband is in the construction field and has had a rough time finding full-time work. She took on a seasonal retail job to help out, but it wasn’t filling the gap. She had mentioned that they were both going to look for work and whoever found the first job, won. The loser stayed home with the kids.
I have multiple issues and complications that have resulted from reading this Facebook update.
First issue is that I found out about it via Facebook. I totally understand that she was excited about her new job, but perhaps she could have called/texted/emailed me first.
Then there is the issue of starting her new job the very next day. I know that her husband was going to watch our son, but I didn’t sign my contract with him, I signed it with her. Again, I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures, but….
The first week of the new arrangement was going all right, but the second week Niko refused to go to daycare. Like freak-out, panic, crying and screaming not wanting to go. I don’t think there was anything malicious going on, but it was clear that he did not like the new arrangement. He missed his babysitter, the one that had been with him since he was 3-months old. Without her at the house, he didn’t want to go back.
So, now we are scrambling. We need to find a daycare facility PRONTO. This is harder than it sounds. It took me over 2 months, and 8 interviews to find the daycare provider I am about to leave!
The challenge is that I have 1 week to find a place with openings for a 2-year old, one I can afford and a place that doesn’t terrify me. The silver-lining here is that Niko is old enough to go to a “preschool” now without night-terrors of him laying a crib alone, crying for human contact. So the hunt begins.
I will not name names here, but my options where I live are pretty slim. We’re northlanders, but not EXTREME northies.
Do I go to the SUPER expensive daycare center that will make Niko college-ready by age 4? Might I add that this place cost more per month than my first house payment; for ONE child. Of course I’m impressed, I should be for that price!!
I really can’t go with the “red-roof” version of daycare. It’s not in me to do it. I am still terrified of that kid factory.
There is another company that has a few locations around town…. none of which are convenient for us. They are all in the opposite direction of our house.
Have I ever mentioned that I HATE drama and that’s what I’m caught in right now. Daycare Drama. Man do I wish we were like Europe…. they start their school program from birth. There is no &#*% “donut hole" of 5 years for you to have to find a place for your child to attend until he/she can attend the school your crazy-high taxes pay for. (Can you tell I’m a bit ticked about this situation?!??!)
The hubby is going to check out places this week on his vacation. Thank goodness for small miracles that he had this week off.Any suggestions???
Any places to avoid like the plague?
First - Facebook definitely NOT the way to advise anyone of news that impacts others and their daily lives! Second, I'm a Northlander and we used St. Gabriel's Early Childhood Learning Center for our youngest son from age 2 through preschool and it was a great experience. Easy access to I-35 too. Very stable and secure operation going on there. Also, in the summer they work in swimming lessons when the kiddles are older! Best wishes to you in your search.If it makes you feel better our first babysitter notified me in a letter while I was on vacation in Florida that she could no longer watch my daughter (6 mos old at the time)- effective the day she wrote the letter. I know that you work in Blue Springs but our daycare is in Grain Valley and I love, love, looooovvvveeeeeeee it! It's called The Duncan Academy and the director and staff are awesome! My daughter has been there since she was a year old and still attends before/after school. Good luck!I had to go dig up my password just so I could log in and post on this blog. Unfortunately, I'm absolutely no help at all with suggesting preschools north of the river. Sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I feel so badly for you -- what a crap situation! I hope you find something ten times better, and within your timeframe. Good luck, Kim.I highly recommend my daycare lady, she is located in Gladstone. Below is her contact information. Tami's Licensed In-Home Day Care 76th and Wabash Mon-Friday 6:30-5:30pm 816-682-9040 tamikh@gmail.com The cost is $135 a week but definately worth it. We have been there for 3 years with my son. She does a preschool curriculum and so my son is more than ready to go to kindergarden.I had my son in New Generation Daycare and preschool in Liberty, MO. Its 792-1140. Its at Liberty Assembly of God church and accepts 2yr olds and up.I haven't had to have care for a kiddo that small in a while, but I have had a short notice situation like that before and I know that it is rotten. I hope you figure it out quickly!I don't have any suggestions for you since we are in Johnson County, just wanted to say good luck and hope you find someone/someplace!I don't have any recommendations for your area, but I wish you the best of luck on finding somewhere new. Finding good quality daycare for children is a big stressor when you're not in a time crunch, so I'm sure you are feeling frantic. Keep us updated on what happens.I could have written this. We were at Kids Kick Start in the Northland... they got seized by the IRS. We had a day's notice also. Then went with in home care with our son's teacher for two weeks until she decided that she couldn't afford it anymore. It is SLIM pickin's in the Northland. We wanted St. Gabriel's but they didn't have a spot for us. Good luck.Good luck, Kim. I cannot recommend any places personally BUT a good starting place is with your county's Health Department because I think they evaluate all the daycare centers and they should be able to provide you with some good insight! ... ProxyMom: You forgot your password here!?!Thanks everyone! It just comes at a bad time... holidays, ya know. I also can't use my pre-tax flex payments since open enrollment is closed for the year. What do you mean this doesn't count as a life-event?!?!?!?? Grrrr....I'm so lazy, I just leave myself signed in all the time. Somehow it signed out... and I just didn't bother taking the 30 seconds to activate a new password. Silly me. Kim, keep us posted! I'm riveted, I know how tough it is to find a really great place for your kids.Kim, Just curious about your comment concerning European Schools starting at birth? I lived in the UK and spent a lot of time in Europe while I was there and never heard this? My kids school started at age 5 just like the US.I had a somewhat similar situation. All through my maternity leave my husband and I planned for a relative to keep our son when I started back to work. She was very excited, and so were we. I spent four weeks getting him used to being dropped off there, just like experts suggest. I start back to work when he was two-and-a-half months, but two weeks later, on a Saturday, we learn that the relative couldn't keep him anymore start the following Monday! Fortunately, I had a backup sitter in case the family member wasn't available from time to time. So, she kept him a couple days, and we asked other family to keep him the other days, while I rushed to research daycares. It was a nightmare! Like you, I like to be thorough in my research and interviewing for something so important. And, the worst part for me was having to go through the emotional process of leaving my baby someplace new AGAIN! This time it wouldn't be with family! I'm happy to say that, by the grace of God, we did find a provider within a week! I fell in love with the place as soon as I walked in the door. It's been five weeks, our little boy is thriving there, and we're very pleased! Take heart, you can find a place in a weeks time! If you haven't tried the Family Conservancy, I recommend them. That's where I found our daycare center. Also, is having your son at a daycare near your job something you would consider? That's what I did, and it really opened up my options.We have toured 4 day cares this week and have narrowed it down to two. One is the super nice/expensive place by a gambling mecca and one is a VERY old Christian School in North KC. It reminds me of the Christian School I went to in Chicago. Our building had a lot of "character/charm" as well, but was alive in spirit. I'm not going to name names, but does anyone know what facilities am talking about? Thoughts? As for the European comment, I am talking specifically about Spain. (Which is probably one of the reasons they are in horrible financial crisis right now...)
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