Daycare problem

Things were going so well when, all of a sudden...
Evan was adjusting so well to his daycare provider and her child when she dropped the bomb on us... she can't take Evan anymore because she's decided to only take full-time clients. She just started doing this daycare thing a couple months ago, and at the time, I suspect she wanted to do part-time to "try it out" and see if she really liked watching other people's kids... now she realizes she likes it, but she's not making enough money. Since state law only allows providers to watch a certain number of children, Evan is essentially taking up a *spot* by only being there 1 day per week, but she could instead take a full-time kid and make four times as much money.

So I don't really blame her, but then I do. I don't blame her one bit for needing the money, but I wish she could have been upfront from the beginning. I'm a teeny bit bitter, which I know I'll get over soon, but just yesterday morning, we dropped Evan off there, and he was *so* happy to see her and to play there. We felt really good driving into work knowing he was in good hands and having such fun. Then a few hours later, she told me.

So now we are back at square one, right where we were 6 weeks ago. I am calling home-based providers and daycare centers. Fifteen home-based places so far will not take part-time kids. Daycare centers will, but we might as well sign over our 401Ks to them with how they penalize part-time clients like us.

Now I know why so many moms intended to work part-time, but were forced to work full-time after realizing how expensive part-time care is.

You know what we need? An organization that matches up part-time parents with other part-time parents. We only need daycare on Thursdays. Surely there is another parent out there who only needs daycare 2 or 3 or 4 days per week... if I knew about them, we could hire a sitter together. But how are we supposed to find such a person, who also happens to live near us and wants the same things as us? Calling all entrepreneurs: someone needs to start this business. I'm too busy making phone calls right now.

Aaaanyway, on the bright side, we're going to get a tree this weekend, and put up lights, and let Evan help with the ornaments. I'm very excited! Christmas is my favorite time of year, no doubt. I think we'll also get all our shopping done, but then again, we still have 2 whole weeks for that... Happy pre-Christmas!