Thanks for the suggestion, now broaden your mind

It’s not a secret that I don’t mind my kids being cared for by others.

In fact, and this may shock some, so deal with it, I actually like long day care for my kids.

I prefer it to other forms of care.

And, right now, I’m looking for care for my nearly 18 month old. I’ve had my name on a waiting list for not nearly long enough. I use the excuse that I am a mother of three, had a young baby, two at school and had, quite honestly, lost my mind and just forgot to put my name down.

So, in the second half of last year, I did put my – well, his – name down at several centres. Then rang regarding family day care, my second option, and put my name on that waiting list as well.

My own fault, I take full responsibility.

I even resorted to asking another school mum for help – a hard ask in itself, as I don’t like asking for help.

The most silly thing I did, however, was openly discuss my plight of lack of childcare, and desperate need for same so I could get some work done, to the general public.

The resounding advice was “just swap babysitting with other mums”. From friends, from relatives, and, sadly, from pareting “support” sites.

(So long as you fit into a particular category)

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great advice. In context. It’s a sensible idea, and I’m sure it works brilliantly.

I also get that I’m “at home all day”.

Yes, that I am. I also happen to be the owner of a business that I operate from home. Thus my being “at home all day”.

Much as I think the swapping childcare is a great idea, I think it’s a stupid idea for me. While I need my child cared for by someone else, I don’t want to be taking up any more of my time with caring for the children of others.

I don’t want or need more distractions, more people in the house, more feeling guilty for refusing to get the paint out or making play-doh, avoiding sitting on the floor doing puzzles, singing nursery rhymes or reading educatoinal stories. Worse, I don’t want to be stressing about whether a cheestik and a banana are acceptable foods for children to eat.

I am a business owner.

Just because I’m at home … or just because I’m a mum … doesn’t automatically amenable to kid-swapping. Or kid accumulating.

Some of us just aren’t cut out for that sort of thing.

I am, however, happy to pay in chardonnay or chocolate!