Fair to My son?

What's wrong with him going to a day care at the age of nine, dcoffee? If he were one or two or even three .. alright, different story. But you've had those years to spend with him and nurture (spelling?) him and help him grow. At this point, I personally see nothing at ALL wrong with having him go to a sitter/day care, whatsoever.

I'm sure it's natural to feel bad at first .. BUT .. look what you're doing for him AND you. You're bettering yourself .. and furthering yourself. At this age, I'm sure he is perfectly alright. He'll probably have a little fun himself anyhoo. :)

Don't worry. He'll be fine. It's not some horrible thing.

*Michael.

If he is 9, wouldnt he only be in daycare a short time before heading off to school? Just check all references and make a few unannounced visits to the daycare. Good luck!

I know out here they have before school and after school programs where kids any age can go and do homework or just hang out until school starts. A friend has her 11 year old in it and she seems fine. Plus, they don't consider it daycare and it's pretty cheap they also make sure the kids get to school. I think it's called Safekey out here.

How does your son feel about it?

He is 9 years old. He may like the change. He can interact with other children and makes some friends, and like the other thread mentioned before he will only be there for a short time before heading off to school.

This is the trend for moms and dads who want to pursue an education. Children are resilient I think an open communication with your kids can alleviate a lot of stress when parents go back to school. In the long run it is worth it especiall if it means a better paycheck!!!!!!!!

Another suggestion may be talk to his classmates' moms and you may be able to work something out with one of them. I did a lot of shared babysitting with neighbors and kids' classmates.....we helped each other out and the kids enjoyed each others' company.

Good luck...it's a challenge to work all this stuff out I know.

You can't protect him forever, many of us had to use babysitters or daycare while going to school and working. Kids adjust, he will be proud of you when you graduate, he will learn how hard you worked and studied to better yourself. What better role model for a kid? He will learn to set goals, work to complete them and then see the reward at the end. It may be the best life lesson you will ever teach him.

Would this be every morning of the week? Or just one or two for a semester or two? What time would your son have to wake up to get him to daycare? Does he wake up easily? You would have to make sure he got to bed early enough to get enough sleep. Kids that age need around 10 hours a night. I don't think the short time in daycare would be a problem but the early hour might if he loses out on sleep.

:) Dcoffe,

I don't see what could be wrong with it except the overprotection feeling that most, if not all, humans develop in your position.

My wife was abandoned by her former husband with two kids in a foreign country. She went to the LPN first and got two jobs. Now she is an RN. She, like many others, has done all the way alone, and she's done it pretty well.

I'm sure you can do it too. With time your child and your conscience will thank your sacrifice.

Speaking as a single parent of 2 kids....I know that's a hard decision to make, and a harder one to stick with. You feel guilty about so many things in regards to your kids while you're in school. I can't count the number of times my kids ate cereal for breakfast AND dinner (there were even more than a couple times they got themselves dinner because I was studying and forgot - I still don't know what they ate those times ). I was in ADN program full time and worked 34 hrs between thursday and sunday too! I always felt like it was three years that I missed of my kids' lives....but it's an investment. And believe it or not, my kids were more proud of me than I was when "we" graduated. We used to all do our homework at the kitchen table with a big bowl of popcorn sitting in front of us. We'd all cram into my bed and fall asleep with our books (of course, mine was HUGE and boring while theirs were interesting.) The bonus things were when I would overhear them bragging to their friends that their mom was in school too and going to be a nurse. My daughter tells her friends that her mom's a nurse...and the way she says it it's like she equates "nurse" with "god". Ok, I'm done rambling now. But seriously, jump in and do what you have to do without looking behind you thinking about what you should have done. (If you don't finish the program, THAT will be one of the things that you look back on as a "should-have") Good luck!

I am sorry to sound so dense, but at nine years old, isn't he in school? The only problem is getting him up a little earlier for school and dropping him off at a day care center or safekid center for about an hour? I agree he will be proud of you when you complete your studies. He will probably be pretty cool about this change in his schedule for the coming months. Make sure he gets his rest and praise his contribution to your education. I wish you the best in this endeavor.