We hired our nanny back when Owen was a year old.
Here in Canada we are extremely blessed with a nearly socialist (HAHA) government who allows mothers to stay at home with their babies for up to one year. AND we get paid for it.
Anyhoo, I returned to work as a full-time nurse when Owen was 12 months old. I had never been full-time IN my life. To top it off, the reason I had to back full-time was because I was 14 weeks pregnant with Samuel. Ooopsie Poopsie!
We needed flexible child-care for our 2 boys so my friend suggested a nanny. (Thank-you Sheila) My 12 hour day/night shifts and Brian working an hour from home were not feasible to daycare outside our home.
We ended up hiring a live-in caregiver "Maripe" from the Phillipines who was already living in Canada. It's all federally regulated, no nonsense here. She has set hours and set pay - anything more is OVERRRRTIME. She leaves every Friday and comes home Monday mornings. Once dinnertime is done, she is done for the day too.
It really is a wonderful program...
Want proof? Check out Canada Human Resources & Development site for more information.
We love our nanny. (Don't even think about trying to steal her. People do nanny steal, did you know that? Parents meet caregivers at the park, offer them more money, an ensuite bathroom....and poof, mommy hires new caregiver!)
So people will actually say to me, "Wow, you must be rich to have a nanny".
FYI, don't give away my secret:
It costs the same as daycare! (With none of the hassles)
Benefits to having a live-in caregiver
1) Never having to bundle up the kids and put them in a cold car at 7am
2) Kids are in the comfort of their own home
3) My boys build healthy relations with each other (between the wrestling, hair pulling, eye poking and toy stealing I mean)
4) Maripe loves them like they're her own
5) We have safe & reliable childcare - even on those miraculous evenings that we go out to socialize!!
6) GERMS! Need I say more?
Disadvantages
1) I pay extra for the boys to go to additional nursery school two mornings a week for socializing & education
2) Revenue Canada (Taxes, Employment Insurance, Paystubs, all the things that come with being an "employer") Thank goodness for the red wine that gets me through tax season.
3) She is going to eventually leave us. (The horror is unimaginable!!)
Yes, that's how much we love her. She's part of our family now - and even if I didn't really need her, I would let her stay as long as she wanted. I know my boys love her too & although leaving them & going to work everyday is one of the toughest things I do, I know they're in great hands.
Here in Canada we are extremely blessed with a nearly socialist (HAHA) government who allows mothers to stay at home with their babies for up to one year. AND we get paid for it.
Anyhoo, I returned to work as a full-time nurse when Owen was 12 months old. I had never been full-time IN my life. To top it off, the reason I had to back full-time was because I was 14 weeks pregnant with Samuel. Ooopsie Poopsie!
We needed flexible child-care for our 2 boys so my friend suggested a nanny. (Thank-you Sheila) My 12 hour day/night shifts and Brian working an hour from home were not feasible to daycare outside our home.
We ended up hiring a live-in caregiver "Maripe" from the Phillipines who was already living in Canada. It's all federally regulated, no nonsense here. She has set hours and set pay - anything more is OVERRRRTIME. She leaves every Friday and comes home Monday mornings. Once dinnertime is done, she is done for the day too.
It really is a wonderful program...
Want proof? Check out Canada Human Resources & Development site for more information.
We love our nanny. (Don't even think about trying to steal her. People do nanny steal, did you know that? Parents meet caregivers at the park, offer them more money, an ensuite bathroom....and poof, mommy hires new caregiver!)
So people will actually say to me, "Wow, you must be rich to have a nanny".
FYI, don't give away my secret:
It costs the same as daycare! (With none of the hassles)
Benefits to having a live-in caregiver
1) Never having to bundle up the kids and put them in a cold car at 7am
2) Kids are in the comfort of their own home
3) My boys build healthy relations with each other (between the wrestling, hair pulling, eye poking and toy stealing I mean)
4) Maripe loves them like they're her own
5) We have safe & reliable childcare - even on those miraculous evenings that we go out to socialize!!
6) GERMS! Need I say more?
Disadvantages
1) I pay extra for the boys to go to additional nursery school two mornings a week for socializing & education
2) Revenue Canada (Taxes, Employment Insurance, Paystubs, all the things that come with being an "employer") Thank goodness for the red wine that gets me through tax season.
3) She is going to eventually leave us. (The horror is unimaginable!!)
Yes, that's how much we love her. She's part of our family now - and even if I didn't really need her, I would let her stay as long as she wanted. I know my boys love her too & although leaving them & going to work everyday is one of the toughest things I do, I know they're in great hands.
Christmas 2009
Coming soon = More posts on the Live-In Caregiver in Canada...
I want to hear from other mommies!
What do you do for child care?
How did you decide?
What are the benefits to your choice?
What do you do for child care?
How did you decide?
What are the benefits to your choice?
Labels: child care, live in caregiver, nanny
Thanks for commenting She-Rocka...
Nothing is perfect and as mommies we just seem to do what works best for our own families and go with it...
I agree these are the toughest years ie: while the kids are this young.
I think things get easier as they get bigger and more independent, but at the same time I worry I will "wish" them older.
It's a tough balance to savour every moment when day to day survival can be so tough. I do my best...but somedays get caught up in the chaos too. Good thing us mommies have each other!
xo
K.
Posted by: Momma K | Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Our kids go to fomal daycare, and we love the program. Benefits:They are exposed to other children there age and the classroom setting helps them develop skills need for JK. We have saved $ having them part time, 3 days a week. As a nurse I often work the weekend.Disadvantages: Colds. We have to get them there early to get to work. We get home late, 6pm most night, then theres make dinner and laundry to do.If I had the choice to make over again, I would put out the extra $ and do the nanny thing. These have been the toughest years. My husband and I have had no time for each other. We are exausted most nights and while Im home with the kids, Mon. and Thurs. and he is home with them Sat. and Sun. we are not home or out together very often. Of course this causes stress in our relationship and in turn can stress out the kids. I really think the live-in caregiver program can strength a family.
Posted by: She-Rocka | Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 12:36 PM