Working Families and Childcare

I need to find something to help supplement our income. I was offered a full time position back at the group home, which I would like to accept, however, daycares close an hour before I would be out on two of the days. Trying to find childcare is tough when you don't work the traditional 9-5 day. (I don't think 9-5 is all traditional anymore anyways) My Hubby works until 8p, which causes more dilemmas! 


Plus, most times, daycare costs are half or more of your weekly pay. 


I was checking out a site called Care.com, which lists child care facilities, providers, nannies and babysitters. They include a background check, too. But you have to pay before you can contact anyone or get more information on them. A lot of the people on here charge a lot, too. I don't see the point of working if most of your earnings go to childcare. It doesn't work out financially. 


There needs to be more options available for working families with non-traditional working hours who also do not have family/friends who are home to watch their child(ren). 

A Rant....

When I worked at the daycare, during my first weeks, I changed a diaper that contained bright green poop. This caused concern for me, so I brought it up with the director. She brushed it off as the kid was just eating junky food and blamed the parents. (This lady is so ignorant on most subjects, but acts like she knows everything. I have a strong dislike for her due to a situation that has happened, but that is another story all together.) I was still concerned and wrote a note home to the parents about it. 


In my experience (working in a group home for 9+ yrs), poop color can mean many things, especially sickness. I have never come across bright green poop until the daycare though. 


Since last night, my 1 1/2 yr old has been under the weather. She's been feverish and zero to low appetite. I just changed her diaper and came across this same bright green poop. Now, I know I don't feed her junk. So, I did a search and found out that Bright Green Poop has to do with not eating enough and the green color is the bile. Has absolutely nothing to do with eating junk. Just another thing to make my blood boil about this lady. How can someone so ignorant on things like this own and run a daycare facility?! 




On a good note, green poop is not a cause for concern, and I should keep trying to get my baby girl to eat. 

Life Changes Can Be a Good Thing

Just 5 years ago, who would have thought that I would be willing to pass on a night out with the girls to stay home babysitting my friends' daughter with my own daughter? Definitely not me. 


I was that person. The person who needed to be out partying every weekend with my closest friends. Drinks in hand, we would close the bar. We would have dance parties on the walk home from the bar and dance some more once we got home. I was the person that got everyone to go out. Those were the days. Not a care in the world except fun times. 


Not so much anymore.


Now my weekends consist of crocheting and grocery shopping. Ha! Who would've thought. My dance parties involve me playing Just Dance on the Wii with my 18m old watching me. My drink in hand is water now. 


I have to say that I am not upset with my new lifestyle. I actually love it. I wouldn't change it in the world. Occasionally, I do have a night out with the girls, but I am just as happy staying home with my girl. My wild and crazy days are not over, there is just a new wild and crazy. 


Last night was my friend's bachelorette party. Due to financial woes, I had to pass on going. It was at the casino and that meant a lot of money. I had to reluctantly pass. My friend was actually ok with that....gave her a babysitter. My first time having a sleepover with a 3 yr old and my 18m old. I thought it was going to be tough. I was all by myself because last night was the stag for the groom and my husband was there doing best man duties. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I actually think that if we decide to have another child after Abbey is 3yrs old, I think I would be able to handle it. 

Dog Food Quality

Recently, my cousin brought to my attention that the brand of dog food that I was feeding Nurbie was full of fillers. Here, I thought I was feeding him a quality food. She told me that there is a website that rates the different dog foods. I did a search and found the site Dog Food Advisor and to my surprise the brand I was feeding Nurbie was only rated 1 star. It included 13 controversial ingredients (the first five listed were included in that list). They give a detailed analysis on what the different ingredients are and why they are good or bad for your dog. 
So I got to thinking. Over a month ago I had bought Nurbie a new "flavor" of this brand, and at first he seemed to like it. As the month has gone on, he was eating less and less of his food. This concerned me. It makes sense that having "bad" ingredients in his food would make his not like it. Nurbie usually eats up his food during the day, but he was eating only a little and leaving a mostly full dish. 
On the way to the store, I researched the different brands that were available at the store we were going to. Unfortunately, money is tight right now. We used to feed Nurbie the dry raw diet, but the food became too expensive for us to purchase. After searching, I found Iams Simple and Natural (dry) food was rated 4 stars. Iams other dry foods were rated 3 stars. It is a little more expensive than the 3 star foods, but Nurbie is like a kid to me and I want him to eat healthy. I wish I could afford 5 stars, but that will come later on.
We purchased the bag of Iams. When we returned home, I dumped out his old food and replaced it with his new food. Nurbie gobbled it up within minutes. He must've liked it. I knew, too, because when the baby was eating, Nurbie was eating his own food and not waiting for dropped food on the floor. HAHA!
Iams Simple and Natural only contains 3 controversial ingredients (dried beet pulp, dried egg product and dried apple pomace). The end of the review states, and I quote:

Iams Simple and Natural Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken and chicken meal as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.Highly recommended.

I highly suggest using Dog Food Advisor to determine whether the food you are feeding your dog is nutritional enough.  

A Visit to the Dog Park

Today, I took Nurbie to the dog park in Southbury, CT, which we visit often when the weather is permitting. It was crowded there. We haven't been there on a weekend in almost a year. We usually go during the week. Today there were two other miniature Schnauzers there and one schnauzer mix. There was also a black and white husky there that looked just like my friend's husky, Brady, who is Nurbie's girlfriend. So, Nurbie was happy to play with this husky. It was funny because he just followed her around like the little puppy dog he is. It reminded me of how he was when he was a puppy and would follow Brady everywhere. 


Nurbie also played in the river, which he will do on occasion if tricked into it. He ran in the water and splashed about. It was great seeing him have fun. He hasn't acted this way at the park in a long time. I am thinking his Lyme's disease really hampered his good time while at the dog park in the past. 

Finding Work....

I have to admit that I love being able to stay at home with my daughter. I love the fact that I get to watch her learn and grow every day and that I am not missing out on anything. Unfortunately, money is too tight and I need to return to the work force. I've been having problems finding the right job. I have a lot of experience in the Human Services field (9 years), but I am limited to what schedule I can work due to my husband's schedule and daycare. Most jobs in the Human Services field are 2nd shift, and my husband gets out after daycares close. I also have a gap in my work experience, which I think is inhibiting my appeal to potential employers. 

Last night, one of the administrators from my last job suggested that I add "Stay at Home Mother" to my work experience on my resume. Why didn't I think of that??!?! It closes that gap and it shows that I wasn't just sitting on my butt the past few months. Raising a Toddler is hard work. And when you add in all the other household duties I do, that's a full time job! 

Thankfully, the position I always wished my old company had is probably in the works of being made. And I am a strong candidate for it. I mean, one of the people I would be working under refers to me as his "protege". 

I am going to keep a positive outlook on this potential opportunity, and I am going to feel so much better now when I apply to jobs and I include my "Stay at Home Mom" experience! 

My Mom's Mango Salsa

Today I had the pleasure of recreating my mom's recipe for mango salsa. I loved it when she made it when Abbey and I were visiting her in FL in March this year. I'm having friends over tonight, so I thought this would be a light and refreshing tasty treat. 
Ingredients:
mangos, cilantro, red onion, jalapeno, and salt.

First I chopped up the mango. I used 2 mangos. I put it in a bowl.

Then, I chopped up the red onion and added it to the bowl.

Then, I chopped up the small jalapeno and added it to the bowl.

Finally, I chopped up the cilantro and added that to the bowl. I used a lot because I love cilantro.

Then, I added salt to taste and mixed it all together in the bowl. This is my finished product:

I can't wait to dig into it tonight!! I might have to remake this for our Cinco de Mayo party next weekend!