Working parents... how do you do it?!

Childcare. Two words come to mind; expensive and scary. Finding a job that fits around our family life and pays enough to cover childcare is proving to be extremely difficult. 

When Teddy came along, we had planned for me to stay at home, which I have always wanted to do. My background is all in retail management, which means erratic hours and weekends, and with Adam working away a lot it's no longer viable as I would be the one responsible for getting Teddy to and from nursery. So my career went on the back burner (fine by me!). Sadly, bills need to be paid, so staying at home with my bear is no longer an option (insert cry emoji here!). For weeks now I've been given the task of finding a job that not only works around us, but also pays well. The elusive 9 to 5 job with a good wage for someone with only a retail background is living up to its name. How do people do it? How do families go out to work, pay for childcare and still come out with a decent wage at the end of the month? Minimum wage doesn't even come close. But that's the harsh reality of it. 

Nowadays, employers want one or two years experience of the role they are advertising for, to even be considered for the position. Do transferable skills account for anything? Not unless it's down on paper. 

Flexibility. Employers need you to be fully available for any 'shift' and cover sickness and holidays. When you have children, that luxury goes out the window. Especially when you are trying to cut down on childcare costs.

Working life just doesn't seem to be very supportive of families or working parents. I'd love to know how other families make it work, or have come across other hurdles. How do you do it?!

Nurseries and Dinosaurs

The last few days have been rather hectic. Sadly, my time as a full-time Mum is having to come to an end. Bills need to be paid, food needs to be out on the table and there is still so much to do to the house. I've absolutely loved having all this time with Teddy. He has turned into such a beautiful little boy, always making me smile and laugh, and has certainly kept me on my toes!

But now comes the scary and difficult task of searching for childcare. Where do I even begin? How do I know he will be safe, will get a cuddle when needed? Will the other children be nice to him? Will he eat and drink enough? How often will his nappy be changed? My worries and questions are never ending.

I know deep down he will be fine. He's so strong willed and fiercely independent. But as a mother, the worries just keep coming. So much so I struggled sleeping last night with the pressure of finding childcare suitable for him. I had just drifted off around 1am... when Teddy woke up crying and wanted to come in our bed (with Daisy and Igglepiggle of course!). We finally got settled again and back into our own beds around 2.30am, so I'm one sleepy mama today!

Yesterday, Teddy and I had a trip out into town for a cuppa with Nanny (my mummy), and to look for something smart to wear for my final interview. Teddy's Nanny treated him to a new dressing gown (he'd finally grown out of his 6-12month one and it's getting so cold!). We found an adorable one in Asda. I have to say my bear makes an adorable dinosaur! He is totally obsessed with it, moans when his hood falls down, and couldn't wait to get it on this morning.

As usual, we popped into the lovely independent toy shop to buy a few of the Lanka Kade wooden animals we collect for T; this time was a shark, goat and rhino (he has a tin devoted to his little collection). I adore wooden toys. They are so simple and ooze quality. You can really see Teddy's imagination come into play when he's sorting, standing them up, and remembering what noises they make. I love the idea that they will last forever, and potentially pass them down to his children; full of chips and scratches from his own toddler days.

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Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy

Turns out the "teething" symptoms may have been a virus after all. I now have it. Oh the joys of sharing germs. Teddy still isn't 100%, but is certainly getting back to his normal crazy, entertaining self.

When my Mum and Dad's grandchildren have been born, they have all received the gift of a special soft toy. My two nephews each have one, B a rabbit and L a dog. Teddy was given a lovely soft Brown Bear. However, T has never really taken to any soft toy, blanket or material object. He has always used his sleeve for comfort by rubbing it on his nose. It's so cute to watch, and one of his little quirks I love. No matter how much I've tried to get him to take to his Brown Bear, it is to no avail. He will always move him to the side, or sit him in the corner of his cot as if to say "he lives there Mummy!".

 

This week my Mum treated Teddy to an Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy soft toy (from In The Night Garden if you other parents with little ones have been living under a rock the last ten or so years), what with him feeling all sorry for himself, and he loves them. They have been shopping, to the health visitors, he plays with them in the car and they go to bed with him every night. Is it a comfort thing whilst he's not well? I thought maybe it's because he recognises them from the television. No. His favourite programme is Bing and he has a soft toy of him and hardly notices he's there. He surprises me everyday.