Stefanie Miller is a regular MomSub blog contributor who knows firsthand how to confront conflicting emotions when searching for affordable and trusted childcare.
It's no secret that finding childcare can be incredibly stressful.
Many parents have been through it and can tell you about their experience. I have dealt with it personally and figuring it all out was such a difficult time. I recently had the opportunity to talk with another mom who knows what it’s like. She is a work at home mom who didn't need full-time daycare for her children, so she struggled with finding help for the few hours a week that she needed. This amazing woman wanted to remain anonymous but agreed to share her story with me.
She works from home and wasn't looking for affordable child care options, but supplemental care. No one wants to work 10 hours a week, and that is all she needs. It can be hard when most options for daycare are full days. The reality is that not all families need 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes just having a few hours to focus on work with two small children can feel next to impossible.
Even to this day, she hasn’t been able to find someone to care for her two children while she works. She is juggling all of the responsibilities of a stay at home mom, while also being a work at home mom. Instead of caving and choosing a daycare whose hours weren’t ideal or going the route of a babysitter or part-time nanny, she chose to try to handle it all by herself. It is so difficult to find time for yourself and to wear so many hats at any given time and it can take a lot of you physically, mentally, and emotionally. No one should have to struggle like that but so many do.
I can relate to where this mom is coming from because I have children that are similar ages to hers. I am now working from home and it can be hard to divide my attention between work and my kids. I don't want my boys to feel ignored but I also need to focus. Being so young, they often don't understand that I need 30 minutes of quiet time and I can't and don't expect them to.
With her being from Seattle, Washington, and I from Florida, it just hits home that no matter where you live in this country, it's the same. Wouldn't you want the option to have someone watch your children for an hour so you can get some work done, do some laundry, or run errands? Wouldn't you want it to be flexible, affordable, and provided by a mom who understands what you're going through?
“I also think that because parenting is so unique and personal, that sharing in the common struggle of childcare is where the commonalities stop.”
This struck me because of the truth in it. Parenting is very personal, and not everyone wants the same thing when it comes to childcare. MomSub allows you to connect and find what you are looking for. Motherhood can be a struggle in itself, so why not try to make life easier? Forming relationships with fellow mothers in your community can be so helpful when you are in a tight spot. Emergencies happen, often without any warning, and can leave you feeling overwhelmed when your children are involved. Not everyone has family nearby, or ready to step up in these situations. Having someone you have built trust with to take care of your children can be such a lifesaver. Life can sometimes throw you curveballs and no one wants to feel like they are alone.
Just remember that you are not alone. There is always someone out there who can relate to how you're feeling and understands, you just have to know where to look.
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Stefanie Miller is a freelance writer living in Florida with her husband, two young children and mother-in-law. She shares the challenges of parenting through her blog at https://stefmillerwrites.wordpress.com/.