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From: falk@uiucuxc.Uiuc.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Who's watching the kids?
Message-ID: <43800003@uiucuxc>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 15:23:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.43800003
Posted: Wed Jul 17 15:23:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Jul-85 02:22:15 EDT
References: <395@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA>
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Nf-ID: #R:cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA:-39500:uiucuxc:43800003:000:1850
Nf-From: uiucuxc.Uiuc.ARPA!falk    Jul 17 14:23:00 1985


{}

Less than a year ago, my husband and I had our first child. We are both older
(I was nearly 30, he 33) than "typical" first parents and both well established
in professions.  We had decided beforehand to BOTH take off some time immed-
iately after her birth to recuperate (we both needed it) and to get to know
our child. My husband took the better part of 4 weeks, I stayed out about
8 weeks (although we have several computer terminals/pcs at home, so we weren't
totally idle).

After doing some interviewing, we found a babysitter that we were happy with,
but we made the arrangement that she would sit three full days and two half
days and that each of us would take her one afternoon a week as "individual"
time (we have flexible work schedules, so we were able to make up the after-
noon during the evening or on weekends).  This has worked out quite well- I
don't feel like I'm herding her off to day-care all the time and yet I can
keep my professional standing.

Actually, there was never any question about either of us quitting work- we
really couldn't afford it (with a new house, new baby, etc.). Now, we probably
could afford it, but don't want to give up the lifestyle we've gotten used to
(the only problem with both spouses making about the same amount of money is
that if one quits, income is cut in half!)

Our daughter seems quite well-adjusted and happy and I feel comfortable with
the arrangement (originally, I felt some pangs of guilt- what kind of mother
was I not willing to give up my job for my daughter), but we continue to have
flexible schedules and will from time to time take extra afternoons off during
the week to play with her during her "peak" times.  I realize that everyone
does not have the type of flexibility that we do, but I am very happy about
the current arrangement!

Connie
(uiucdcs!uiucuxc!falk)