Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?): The Introvert's Guide to Surviving Parenthood by Julie Vick

Author:Julie Vick [Vick, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Family & Relationships, Parenting, General, Humor, Topic, Marriage & Family
ISBN: 9781682686560
Google: 7sECEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: The Countryman Press
Published: 2021-08-10T23:34:35.808928+00:00

¶¶ NPR, “Want to Feel Happier Today? Try Talking to a Stranger,” www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/07/26/744267015/want-to-feel-happier-today-try-talking-to-a-stranger.

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Securing Your Alone Time: Selecting Childcare

Selecting childcare isn’t something most people think about when they envision becoming a parent. But it is a big decision and poses important questions like: Would you rather confront a nanny about why she is late again or make small talk with other parents at daycare drop-off? There are a lot of factors that go into the decision for selecting childcare, including budget, safety, options in your area, and personal preferences. Selecting childcare felt like a huge undertaking to me when I had my first kid. I talked to friends, researched different options, and studied my state’s childcare licensing report website like I was preparing for a college entrance exam. But one big concern you probably have is about the social demands of each of the options. Here are some things to consider:

Staying home to care for the child: If you are a parent who will be staying home with a child, then one of your major considerations will be just figuring out some time when you don’t have to be in charge. A top priority should be finding a way for a partner, friend, relative, or a really engaging episode of Sesame Street to give you a break from time to time. This option also likely involves you being the main person in charge of calling the doctor to schedule appointments and ask things like, “Should I be worried if my child just smothered butter all over his body?” So consider finding a pediatrician who lets you ask questions via email. If your partner is the one staying home with the child, just be aware that they will need many, many breaks.

Individual caretaker other than yourself: Based on budget and availability, some people hire a nanny or have a trusted family member take care of their baby. If the caretaker is only caring for your offspring, then this wins you some points in the “navigating other parents” department. The downside is that you are an employer. This means you must talk to your employee about any problems that crop up. So it’s important to ask yourself if you are comfortable negotiating days off for your nanny or if you have the fortitude to fire Grandma if she keeps showing up late. Some people save on costs by entering what is called a nanny share where a nanny cares for more than one family’s child. I have friends for whom this arrangement worked well, but it does involve a lot of the cooks in the kitchen, which can be socially draining. Some parents also have au pairs live with them and care for their children. For this option, you would obviously need to be willing to have another person live in your house with you. This arrangement has worked well for some people I know, and it may work particularly well for you if you happen to live in Austria, have seven children, and get an applicant who can sew clothes and teach the kids to sing and dance.

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