Day Care

INA MORGAN (nhorizon@iafrica.com)
Sat, 30 Mar 1996 10:02:33 +-200 

I am in such a dilemma. =20

I have to work, I do not work for the "fun" of it or because we need =
"extras" to make our life more comfortable.  My husband has just changed =
jobs in order to build a career that will allow him to earn more but at =
the moment he is making just enough to cover the repayments on our VERY =
modest little house - so I am left to pay everything else.  Our medical =
bills are very high each month apart from the normal day to day costs of =
living.

Gareth and Devin go to a wonderful day care centre, run by a qualified =
nursing sister - it is convenient for me to drop and collect them and =
they are learning so much and have a ball there, in fact, today being =
Saturday, they are so bored as they are used to the stimulation they get =
at the creche.  My Ped. has now told me that it is imperative that I =
keep Devin home for at least 4 months over winter due to his chest =
problems.  I am spinning around trying to solve this!

I could employ a Maid/Nanny but I do not have anywhere for her to live =
and due=20
to the volatile situation here with our Taxis (they are Mini Buses that =
the black folk own and operate mainly for the black community - this is =
the main source of transport for this community and the taxi owners and =
drivers are for ever indulging in Taxi Wars - where they shoot each =
other and their innocent passengers - so often these poor innocent folk =
either if they are lucky just to not make it to work or the unlucky ones =
get killed or injured) it is not certain that a maid will be able to get =
here every day.  My job is such that I cannot just take off at a drop of =
a hat.

I have also heard stories where a Nanny has been with a family for years =
and been wonderful and then suddenly goes on a drinking spree, leaving =
the little ones unattended (horrors).  I could certainly do with some =
home help as I work a very full day and then have to attend to house =
work as well as two active children when I get home and my husband is =
now working night and week-end shift so my wonderful support system is =
no longer available.

I also feel it is not fair to leave an untrained Nanny to cope with =
Devin's many problems and I cannot afford to pay the salary of someone =
with nursing training.

Help, do any of you wise folk out there have any solutions to this =
problem.  My main concern is Devin's well-being and I want to do what is =
the right thing for him.

Ina