How many families can afford to live on one income these days? Unless you want to live in the outer, outer suburbs, and live like a franciscan, it's nigh on impossible. So, you wanna go back to work. OK. What are you gonna do with the small fry? Child care of course.
Ha, ha, ha, ha. Good luck to you. Do you know community run child care comes with a waiting list of 12 months plus? Private child care centres cost approximately $100 per day (albeit before rebate, but still)? And you need full time care in 3 months time? What were you thinking?
Evidently there is an enormous gap between supply and demand. I can't help but conclude it is due to the appalling low pay child care workers receive, which hardly endears it as a career to people who are trying to make a life for themselves in an expensive world. That, combined with the amount of people who are unable to stay at home and care for their preschool children for financial reasons, have created a shortage which places people in difficult situations. My mum regularly remarks how many of her friends care for their grandchildren on a regular basis - but for me, I couldn't ask my mum to care for a toddler - I can barely keep up and I'm half her age!
It's not all doom and gloom though. Persistence pays. I am confident I will find my son a place in a centre and he will be enriched by the stimulation - oftentimes I feel I am not enough to keep him entertained. I will have the opportunity to pursue a career in which I hope will add depth to my character and set a good example for my son.
So later this week I am missioning to Melbourne to go visit any and every centre I can find close to my parents house (we still don't know where we're going to live, which presents another set of problems!), hopefully kiss enough ass and pander to their politically correct and audit fearing concerns, and keep my fingers firmly crossed for an outcome by the end of the week.
It's amazing to me that less than 12 months ago how uncomplicated my life was. Now, everything revolves around my son's wellbeing. Parenthood!
Keeping positive is the key. It is much easier of course to not take any risks - but the rewards are too enticing to miss out on.
