that everything in life happens for a reason. I have always believed in this analogy. The reason may not be huge or life changing, but there is a reason.
But when that reason is so unclear, it can get frustrating. & scary & you just want to yell "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?"
Like I stated in my vlog the other day, I have been home with Claire this whole week because I haven't had a babysitter. Thank goodness I work for my dad's company, so he's obviously very understanding of the situation. But, it's been a strain on us financially. But, I have loved & soaked up every minute of being home with that little stinker & made the best of it. I would be lying if I said I didn't get used to being home with her every day.
It's like a double edged sword, people!
I need money, but I love being home with her, but I need money, BUT I LOVE BEING HOME! Wahhh!
Everyday this week, I've had a lot of time to think. Yes, I haven't been able to work, but it's really been a blessing in disguise. Claire & I have grown so much closer in this one short week. We've created a whole new bond {as if that was possible, right?} together.
I truly believe that with all of these events happening, preventing me from working, that I am supposed to be with her everyday. So... I am looking into jobs that allow me to be with her all of the time. I.e. nannying. Random? yes. But, it was actually my dad who brought up the idea to me. My boss, told me to look into finding a nannying job. How ironic.
So, the other night; I joined care.com. I created a profile & applied for a few different positions. But honestly? Who is going to want a nanny for their child who brings their own child with them? I don't know, but it's worth a shot. I mean, it could be beneficial for each child! If I nanny for say, a 6 month old, Claire & said child could be playmates!
Meh, maybe I'm living in a dream world thinking that this is possible, but I've got to find something. Working away from the home one or two days a week, just isn't really benefiting us all that much.
Did I mention that my dad's business is also not doing well. At all? So, I also feel a bit guilty taking money from him that he doesn't really have to work here. I don't really contribute all that much to be honest. As sad as that is to say. It's the truth.
So, while we struggle to find me a job, hubs is working is butt off at his job making it possible for us to stay afloat. He wants me to be a WAHM as much as I do. If we could live off just his income, we would have done it a long time ago!
While I look for a job, I am soaking up all of this precious time with my precious baby.
Because after all, this is happening for a reason.
If anyone has suggestions on jobs that can be done at home, I'm open to them!
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Have you thought about opening a day home? Like a day care center at your house. You could choose how many kids you wanted to look after. You could also just do after school care, or before, or both. It's similar to nannying but I think it has more freedom. That's what I'm hoping to do once my mat leave is over.
ReplyDeleteI was in your exact situation when I lost my job a week before I found out I was pregnant and couldn't find one until my babygirl was 4 months old because of the economy and well no one was really hiring.
ReplyDeleteMy only suggestion would be and this is only if you have the patience and room in your home to start an in-home childcare business. That way you can be with Claire and other kids, you can set your own hours as far as how soon the parents can drop off and to pick up. You can decide how many kids you can actually take on and calculate that into how much you would want to charge. You can post in your local newspaper as well as craigslist and I know here in my hometown they offer certain programs where the state would provide food for the kids even of those in the in home childcare.
Keep your head up and keep praying you'll get that window of oppourtnunity.
Good Luck!
ugh girl im in the same dilemma but ours is a little different...we live in NJ (very high cost of living) and he makes ok money but his other child supports take most of it ....i have had the same 40 hrs per wk job for 6 yrs and just lost child care assistance so if I stay home we cant afford our tiny apartment (but we definitely cant find something smaller .....if i stay at work i cant afford full priced daycare at $1400 per month....thats almost my full pay....grrr......the world sux sometimes....
ReplyDeleteI thought of in home daycare but my place is too small .....In a perfect world I wish i made enough on ETSY to supplement the income but Im at a loss for now. Can you start an ETSY store? I mean is there something you do very well.....like sewing or something you can start a business with?
I totally wish I could do some sort of nannying too! That is a great idea, Laur. I hope it works out for you! Call me when you are free :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you! I hope you find a nanny position that works out, I would offer in-home care if you had the room!
ReplyDeleteI was a nanny this past year and I was able to take Caleb with me. Lots of families r up for the idea
ReplyDeleteMy friend is a nanny and also brings her son with her 2 days a week to the house she works for. Her son and the boy she watches are 3 days apart so that is awesome. She does say however its really hard to juggle both kids at the same time (26 months now) but it was easier when they were younger. She doesn't really do it anymore it so hard for her to manage them both. Good luck. People do do this though.
ReplyDeleteI think opening a home day care would be great for you, my SIL just put her baby in a home day care and she loves it, the lady also has her own baby, and it is just like a playdate.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat and have been signed up with care.com for a while now. I would love to have kids come over to the house even for snow days or anything. So far I havent had many contacts but we'll see. My little guy is 3.5 months old. I also have been trying to make things for etsy. Haha I have the shop online but its empty. Thats how far I have gotten on that. Well I hope something great comes your way!
ReplyDeleteYears ago when my son was 2 (he's 11 now), I started my own in-home child care. I only had 2 babies that I kept. I ran it as my home business and it was successful, plus I got to stay home with my son! It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I was able to be home with my son, teach (I'm a certified teacher) and bring income into our family. It also didn't overlap into our family time because my husband was at work during my business hours too!
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested in any specifics about contracts, schedules etc. and what I did, please feel free to email me. Sometimes it's helpful to have an outline to jump from!
I hope you're able to do something that will enable you to stay with Claire too!
Right now, I am home with Lily (6months), but it IS hard financially too. :)
Thank you so much for your encouragment!
ReplyDeleteNo one has contacted me yet on the jobs I applied for 3 days ago, but hopefully soon! We have a good sized home & in home daycare would be so great. I almost don't even know where to begin??
@ Erica, an Etsy shop would be awesome except......I'm the LEAST crafty person on this planet! HAHA!
Best of luck finding something!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to come across as a negative nelly but, I just went through the nanny search. And, there is NO way Alex and I would hire someone who brought their child to our house as well.
Aside from Kate's health issues and our desire to not have her around children on a regular basis, there will always be the fear that the caregiver will neglect your child for their own.
We can't deny that we have amazing bonds with our child. And we are more attentive to their needs. It is just too risky, in my opinion (as someone that is paying a nanny) to have someone have to chose between their child and mine. Because we all know that if both babies are crying/ needing something at the same time, the nanny will always chose their child first. And that is not what a nanny should be doing. I’m not spending $2000/ month to bring someone into my home and not put my child first.
I'm saying all this so you don't get your hopes up too high - I had many mothers apply to our position on care.com that wanted to do the same thing so it apparently isn't uncommon for women to hope for a situation like that. But, my friends and I that use nannies would never hire a mother who brings her own child.
Again, best of luck finding a way to spend more time with your sweet daughter!
My husband and I lived in salt lake city for a 6 month job rotation he had and I am a teacher, so I couldn't really find a job for just 6 months and didn't want to do the whole W2 thing. So I joined care.com and got a gig within a few days! I nannied for a lady that lives in the avenues, who worked at home that had a two year old and a 5 month old. It was SO easy and she paid well too. I bet there are some jobs on care.com where people would be ok with you bringing claire with you. I also think doing an at home daycare with just a couple of kiddos would be good for you too. The only thing is, you wouldn't be able to go out, like Target, or whatever during the day. Unless you just had like one other babe and the parents were ok with that. There is some good money to be made in child care!! Make sure you charge what a normal daycare would charge per day or week, so you can get the most out of it. I'm sure you could make a decent amount salary because your care would be more individualized than a daycare with "classes" of like 12 or more kids! Good luck and let us know what you decide to do! I also believe everything happens for a reason! :)
ReplyDeleteWe just hired a nanny on care.com, who is amazing, and I totally would have considered someone bringing their own child. It's a great site and I'm sure you'll find the right match. My nanny has a grandson that I've told her to have over as often as possible because I want my baby to get used to being around other kids without having to go the daycare route. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I love every moment of being with my daughter. Which is why I decided to step up my Mary Kay business from just being a hobby to actually working it as a business. I love what I do and I'm so passionate about it because it has allowed me to be home with my daughter and I'm about to earn my first free car as well. I also have a lady on my team that's a single mom that was laid off from her job and was able to exceed that income and earn her car. If you want to know more about it you can check out my website www.marykay.com/kristanaldjian or email me with any questions at kristanaldjian@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best. You deserve to be happy whatever you decide!
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteMy parents just started with something called GDI, it's essentially selling websites. It's working out pretty well for them, my mom actually was able to put in her two weeks notice! The website is http://website.ws/jalanmcginnis or www.mamarambo.com check it out and if you like it you can email him at jedamcginnis@yahoo.com I hope you look into it! I am loving being able to stay at home with the kiddos so I know what you mean! I hope you have a great weekend!
Danielle
I've been a nanny for the past 8 years and this past december I had my first baby. He comes with me to work. He and the little boy I care for are now like brothers. It has its challenges, like anything. But I love the little boy I take care of (been with him since he was born) and I love being with my baby all day. Good luck!! When its meant to be it will be!!!!! <3
ReplyDeleteHi! I am a WFHM, so I thought I would add in my thoughts. Your daughter is so sweet :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, it does not always makes sense on paper that I can stay home. Before I had my daughter, I made (over) half of our income. We saved a lot/tried to pay a lot off when I was pregnant, and then started making huge sacrifies. We cut things like cable t.v. and didn't go out to eat much. We cloth diapered, and I took to making a lot more things homemade (like bread) and also shopping at alternatives to main grocery stores (scratch and dent stores, farm stores, etc.) We miss little luxeries like regular date nights and new clothes, but we always manage to have everything we need and then some. We have really learned how to live on my husband's income, and God has really blessed us greatly. I know that is not possible for everyone, so forgive me if I am coming accross that way...but it REALLY did not look possible for us until we really looked at how we could MAKE it work.
My WAH job is an online writing coach. I work for a sort of cyberschool for homeschooled students. It comes out to be about 20-30 hours per week (which I do mostly after the babes goes to bed or is napping,) and I get paid by the student. It is not a lot, but it is enough to fill in the gaps.
The cool thing is I still feel like we are giving my girl everything we want to. We have gone on vacations to "family" places (like my in-law's cabin in the mountains). I shop on etsy and at re-sales for the cutest little clothes, and have learned to make my own hair accessories. She has plenty of toys that are hand-me-down, from Etsy, or gifts. I have no doubt as she gets older, and as we have more children, God will provide for us, and give us creative ways to make it work.
It looks like you have lots of advice from people that know what they are talking about! I have no experience, but I do have a friend that does an day home with her 2 kids plus however more you are allowed to have. She likes it and plus doesn't have to pay for daycare for her children, win win! It would be nice if you could get one or two babies/children to nanny in your own home.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any tips for you- all I wanted to say is I, too, believe everything happens for a reason. I will be praying that things get all figured out. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
ReplyDeleteMuch love sweet lady!
Erin
Good luck & I will say a prayer for you. It has been a bit more of a struggle on us financially than we thought it would be BUT I would not trade being home with our little guy for ANYTHING!!
ReplyDeleteFingers are crossed for you.
just a positive thought - i nannyed when my son was 9mo old for a 12 mo old and brought him. it was tons of fun for him, the little girl and me.
ReplyDeletei know the above commenter said they would never higher a nanny who brings a kid, but i dont think thats typical
good luck!
I have an award for you over at my blog!
ReplyDeletehttp://mommymandymusings.blogspot.com/2011/02/second-blog-award.html
When my daughter was 10 months old I went to a ladies a house and watched her 6 kids (plus my daughter). It was great to get out of the house, make some money and my daughter loved the company of the other kids! She didn't need me for long so after that I opened up my own home daycare. I took in 3 kids full time and it was awesome! Chaotic at times and my house was pretty hard to keep clean, but so worth it to be home with my daughter, while making money and giving her friends to play with. I had to stop because I was put on bed rest with my second pregnancy but it is something I would love to do again.
ReplyDelete