Q:
I had to put my 3- and 4-year-old kids in daycare when I went back to work. They are there from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week. Is this too long of a day for them? I feel so guilty. I have no family where I live, so I stayed at home. Now that our savings is gone, I have to bring in some income.
A:
It's my opinion that this is too long for your kids to be away from you. Besides, they end up with a tired mommy at the end of the day.
I know this isn't making you feel very good, and I realize you're in a spot. Is it possible for you to work part-time and your husband to take on two jobs? Or can you and your husband work different shifts so that one of you is home with the children? These changes are worth considering. Another option may be moving close to family so relatives can help out.
If none of my suggestions is possible, you may want to consider daycare in a childcare provider's home. There are typically fewer children in this arrangement, and they're watched by an attentive, motherly figure. Good Luck!
Kenneth N. Condrell Ph.D Child Psychologist
