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Archive for the ‘Childcare’ Category

Nanny or Daycare? That is the Question…

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

My name is Layla, and even though I have been blogging about all kinds of fun things on Yahoo!, this is my first Yodeling Mamas post, so thanks for reading.

Like most new moms out there, I wake up every morning with a smile and a sigh, because I could really use another hour of sleep, but my daughter’s “cooing” is just too adorable to ignore.

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Our family has a pretty regular routine down:
• The baby wakes us up
• My husband and I argue about whose turn it is to get up, even though we both know it will be me
• I breastfeed and then bring the adorable bundle of joy to her father so they can have their bonding moment, which is — you guessed it — getting her diaper changed. (Who said life isn’t fair?) (more…)

Posted in Childcare, Jobs at Yahoo! | No Comments »

Starting Again

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

As I type that title, I realize it has so many more meanings to me than I originally intended. You see I have a 13-going-to-be-14-year-old daughter and a 19-month-old son. I am remarried of course, and when we thought about starting a new family together I never thought I could do it all over again. I never thought I could do diapers and midnight bottles all over again. Then I had my beautiful baby boy, and I can’t believe I did the first time so young. I am so much more patient, wise and simply happier now than I ever was with my daughter.

But what I was originally thinking when I started writing this blog was the fact that after several months with my husband out of work, he has just found a job and we now have our son in daycare. OH BOY starting my days and routine all over again.

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How can a day get any longer? I get up a 5 a.m. to go to work, while my husband gets up to take the baby to daycare. I go to work early, so I can be the one to pick him up. Once I pick him up, he of course is STARVING, so I race home to feed him dinner and cook dinner for the family. (more…)

Posted in Childcare, Family time, Parenthood, Place: Sunnyvale | No Comments »

A Working Mom’s Celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Last night, my husband sweetly told my son that he’d drive him to preschool in the morning. Since he’s done that a total of, say, 3 times, this was a big treat. For Munch and for me. (It’s not the he’s unwilling to take him, it’s just that usually Munch prefers I take him and I really enjoy it.)

This morning I decided to forgo the makeup and throw on sweats so I could dive into work. I recently started a new role that has me really excited about getting to work. I’m loving what I’m doing (and I’m not just saying that because my boss is likely to read this). I had a huge list of things to accomplish and since I’m working from home this morning, I could do them all—uninterrupted.

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Then—just 10 minutes until preschool departure time—I realized that today is the one day of Teacher Appreciation Week I was actually supposed to do something. Two somethings, in fact. (more…)

Posted in Childcare, Family time, Jobs at Yahoo!, Parenthood | No Comments »

We Survived H1N1

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Last week, those scary what-ifs became our scary reality. My 3-year-old son came down with the dreaded swine flu. Not only had I been completely freaked out by the media, I have friends who are doctors who told me this is really no joke. Not to mention, just the day before a colleague had returned to work after recovering from one of the worst weeks of her life. With no vaccines yet available at our pediatrician’s office and a baby with respiratory problems, I had a feeling we were in for a really rough ride.

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Somehow we got lucky. Yes, my son was very sick. He had fevers of up to 103 degrees, was so exhausted and sore that he couldn’t walk, had a cough and stuffy nose, but it didn’t last too long. Though the nurse recommended we stay home, I’m a pushy mom and wanted to be seen so my boys could be treated. (more…)

Posted in Childcare, Family time, Parenthood | No Comments »

Painful Goodbyes

Monday, September 21st, 2009

It starts with a trembling lip. Followed by a death-grip hug. Then, he erupts. “Don’t leave me! I need you!”

It’s been about 3 years since I went back to work after my first son was born, but leaving him each morning hasn’t gotten any easier. Probably because inside, I’m feeling all the same sadness and anxiety that he is, but I’m not supposed to let it show.

We’ve had different childcare situations—a nanny share, a small in-home daycare, our own nanny—and each one presents different challenges and opportunities for my son. But one thing remains the same, his separation anxiety.

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Posted in Childcare, Parenthood, Place: Sunnyvale | 1 Comment »

Business travel

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Business travel for me means a trip to the other side of the globe, from Bangalore to Sunnyvale. It has to be the farthest I can go, given the 12 1/2 hour time difference. Thankfully I only need to do this a couple of times a year.

Every time I start planning a trip I am excited at the prospect of “time off,” a change in the routine, for about a week. But the day I have to leave, I don’t pack until a few hours before the flight and print the tickets at the last minute. I just don’t feel like going, and the hour-long ride in the middle of the night to the airport is miserable.

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Posted in Childcare, Jobs at Yahoo!, Me-time, Parenthood, Place: Bangalore, Place: Sunnyvale | 2 Comments »

To Daycare, or Not To Daycare

Friday, August 7th, 2009

I admit it. Before I had a son, I thought daycare was a horrible place, and could never imagine using it. “It’s my responsibility to stay home and raise him, since it was our choice to have him,” I would think.

We all know people without kids are the best experts, right? *sarcasm*

Once Peter was born last November, and I was on maternity leave, I had to make the big decision – go back to work, or not. There were definitely pros and cons to each side. Pro: extra income means extra money for fun stuff. Con: I wouldn’t see him that much except on the weekends and a little bit after work. Pro: baby gets socialization with other people and kids. Con: Someone else might see all the “firsts” before I did.

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Posted in Childcare, Parenthood, Place: Colorado | 1 Comment »

The nannies who do manis

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Let me start off by saying – you can’t stay balanced. Doesn’t matter if you are a full-time mom, part-time mom or stay-at-home mom. There is no way to get everything done.

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