Daycare: Maternity Leave Is Over!

Having the opportunity to be out of work with my son was amazing and I did not want it to end. However, when it was time for me to return to work, I was not ready...at all! I was dragging my feet and actually did not go back to work at the time I previously planned.  When I knew I could not extend my leave any longer, I began looking for daycares. I can honestly say that the search for a daycare can be stressful but I prayed that the Lord would lead my husband and I to the right one. Once we found a daycare, we began the process of transitioning my son for about three days at daycare for a 2 to 4 hour stay. It was difficult and anxiety was trying to creep in but I managed.

HOWEVER, when it came to the first full day for when I returned to work, I was not ok!  Once I dropped off my son and began my commute to work, all the weight and anxiety came down on me and I took it hard…very hard. Driving off from the daycare got the best of me and I cried uncontrollably. I am not talking about a sweet and soft cry…it was definitely a cry that involved lots of tears and groaning.

Oh but how great our God is! While I was crying on my way to work, my friend called me. She was also a mother with a child in daycare. She called me unexpectedly and when I answered the phone I was crying so hard I could barely speak or get a word out to reply to her. When she realized I was crying she asked what was wrong and I continued to cry and barely squeezed out that I had just dropped off my son at daycare and that today was my first day back to work. She was calm, gave me an understanding sigh and told me that she understood how I felt and that she’s experienced the same feelings.

She then told me that both my husband and I made the decision for me to return back to work and that we both took the time out to place my son in the right daycare for us and that we were confident in the decision that we made for our family and trusted God during the process. Simple but yet profound and much needed for a mama who was crying and needed someone to give her those supporting words in that very moment. Her words spoke to me in a way that left me confident and assured in God’s scripture and I was able to rest in those words.

Psalm 56:3 states “What time am I afraid, I will trust in thee.”

Psalm 94:19 states that “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” I can apply this scripture because when I was overcome with anxiety, God used a friend of mine to speak to me that in turn consoled me and gave me comfort in a big transition that was taking place for my family.

2 Timothy 1:7 states “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

 I thank God often for having my friend at that very moment call me when I needed extra reassurance in the choice of me returning to work and placing my son in daycare. So if there are any mamas (daddies) out there with daycare approaching soon... my advice… breathe. Unless you have a nanny or family member taking care of your child. Take your time to pray, seek God, research daycares and visit places. Know that when a multitude of feelings began to shower you, trust in God.

Each day gets better and easier and now when I drop my son off he smiles at his teachers, which gives me a such happy feeling. Do I have mom guilt sometimes, yes, however I would not change the decision we made to place my son in daycare. It was a wise decision for my family and I am often amazed at how much our son has learned and developed at daycare.