New Blogger - Shared Care Part #1
I am thrilled to be introducing you to my good friend Michelle today. She has graciously agreed, to my complete delight, to be a contributing blogger on the More Than A Village Blog. As you may remember from my very first post, Michelle and I met in pre-natal class and had planned to share care. Our boys were born three days apart and enjoy our play-dates as much as we do.

Michelle Moses is a new mom experiencing all the highs and lows of parenthood for the first time. Before taking on the role of mother she worked in communications in Vancouver, BC. Currently on maternity leave Michelle is facing the dilemma of returning to work and putting her son into childcare. Michelle will be chronicling her search to find someone to share care with along with the many other adventures of motherhood.

Sharing Care. Can the dream be a reality?

The anxiety set in about a month ago. My baby, Joshua is now nine months old, which means my maternity leave runs out in three months.

When I heard that babies cost a lot of money, I always thought it referred to the material needs of a child. Now I realize it’s the lost hours of work or day care costs which make children expensive.

I am not a wealthy woman and my husband does not make a great deal of money, but as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew I didn’t want to put my child into full time care. As soon as someone asked me if I would be going back to work I always answered, “I don’t think so. I’d like to find another mom to share care with. You know, I would look after her child part time and she mine and then we could both work part time but avoid day care costs.”

I know that part-time work will not bring in a lot of money, but thanks to the government I’ve learned to live on 55 per cent of my wage. I’d love to be able to live on just my husband’s wage, but if we did we’d lead very boring lives and never have new clothes.

So my goal is still to find a part time job and share care with another mom.

I thought it would be pretty easy. I belonged to an amazing pre-natal group that began to meet regularly when we were all five months pregnant. By the time we were seven months pregnant I had someone to share care with. Sarah. But then she moved to Langely and our plans went out the window.

I’ve been keeping my eye open for another mom ever since. I have joined a signing group in my neibourhood, and attended many parent information sessions. Another woman from my pre-natal group is interested in sharing care with me but there are still many factors to consider.

It’s so much more than just finding another mom you can share care with. It’s finding another parent with the same values, someone who hopefully lives close by and someone you can sync schedules with.

So I’m still on the hunt for that perfect match and trying to secure a part-time position that will be flexible. With only three months left to figure everything out, I wish this were an easier process.

~Michelle

Labels: Daycare, maternity leave, Michelle, Shared Care

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