Congratulations on your baby-to-be! My baby was born on June 23...1993!!! You will be shocked at how fast that special date in June goes from due date to "I want to get my permit!"

Where do you live? I'm great at networking and someone in my network might have some thoughts, but I'm sure that location is going to be key.

I went back to work full time when my kids were 6 weeks old and I have never regretted it for a minute. Some women tell of crying all the way to work...I remember singing along with the radio and being delighted to have my black patent leather pumps on instead of my flip flops! For me, I knew that returning to work and having my kids see me as a working Mom was a good choice for me. Now...I "retired" five years ago...and am so glad I am "home" now rather than when they were babies. Now is the time that you want to hear about what they did in school, who said what, etc. And you only hear that by being around at the right times...it doesn't come out when you ask, "How was your day?" during dinner.

Happy Mother's Day!

Who knows? Maybe my little one will come a bit early (but still fully baked!) and we will have children with identical birthdays!

We currently live by the airport (Brier Creek area), but are looking to move closer to Downtown. My husband teaches at Dillard Drive Middle School, right next to the Crossroads shopping center in Cary, and my office is downtown Raleigh. I'm not sure when we will be moving - the "plan" had been to buy a home, then have a baby - but you see how that's working out for us! :)

I would thoroughly appreciate any help you can give through your networks. Finding the right situation and location is tough - but I have faith it will all, work out.

Also - thank you for the encouragement about going back to work. It is a difficult choice (especially considering my own mother stayed at home for 25 years), but I know it's the right one for me.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day - despite the rain! Thank you again!

My friend sends her son to Children's Discovery Center - it's kind of near Crossroads on Avent Ferry. Anyway - she sends him part-time and says they are very flexible. She's really happy with it and, I believe, plans on sending her newborn daughter there part-time in a few months. And I think she said they've even got spaces now.

Here's a link: http://casparpark.com/daycare.html

I pretty much cried my eyes out when I went back to work full-time. My daughter was almost seven months at the time (I worked part-time for a little bit after my maternity leave). I've been lucky. Her daycare is within walking distance of my office so I visit. And I have a flexible schedule like it sounds you will have. I think that's the best way to find "balance" if that actually exists.

Thank you for the reference to Children's Discovery Center. It's within walking distance from my husband's school (he teaches at Dillard Drive Middle), so that is a definite plus.

They are extremely flexible and the prices are reasonable. I like how you don't' have to "partner up" with someone to receive part-time care.

I spent about 30 minutes there this morning and really liked what I saw. However, it is my first place to look at so I don't have anything to compare it to. The teacher I spent the most time with is in the 0-4 month classroom and obviously loves what she does.

I talked to a dad who was dropping off his one-year-old, their first, and he had nothing but good things to say. Overall - good experience!

I would love to talk with your friend, if she doesn't mind. It's always nice to hear information straight from the parents who are using the center.

Also - where does your daughter attend? I'd love to be able to walk and see mine during the day. I've called several places downtown and most don't offer part-time or have a very long waiting list. I do have a possibility at First Baptist Church, though.

Thanks again for your help!

I'm glad it's working out!

We're at First Presbyterian but they don't do part-time.

ColleenNandO,
I also work downtown and have been having trouble finding daycare that is affordable with spots open. I am not due until September and will be looking for care 2 days a week starting in December most likely. I'd be happy to meet up one day for lunch or coffee if you think we might be able to do a daycare-sharing situation. (although our timing is off a bit) We live near Lake Johnson so I'm looking at downtown centers as well as places in the Avent Ferry/Crossroads area.

I would love to meet up with you and discuss daycare sharing options. I will private message you my information so we can sort out the details. Thanks!

I have also heard great things about Children's Discovery Center.

I have several friends who take their children there. They also have a preschool and after school programs.

Hi, I'm a new member, and I, too, am having some trouble finding part time childcare. I'm going to contact the Children's Discovery Center, but I have a sinking feeling that the waiting list is going to be too long. My baby is due in November, and I'll need part time childcare starting in January. I'm only looking for about 10 hours a week, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Would a babysitter/nanny be the best way to go? We live in North Raleigh, but I'll be working close to downtown. Are there any other options besides the Discovery Center? Thanks!

For some reason I feel like my friend told me that they really don't have a waiting list at the child discovery center so it's definitely worth checking - and my information is several months old. Let us know what you hear.

A nanny or babysitter or home day care would probably be the most flexible for you. I know some people have found nannies/babysitters through Meredith College - might be worth a shot.

Thanks!  I have a call in to the discovery center, and the woman I spoke to said that they did have a waiting list, but she didn't put me off when I told her that I would need to start in January, so perhaps it's either not that long or isn't as much of an issue for part time care.  She wasn't the person who really knew what the situation was, so hopefully I'll hear good news.  Thanks for the Meredith College recommendation!