Working Parents & Childcare

Daycare wants two weeks of half days to resettle her after the break. Who does the 12.30 pickups?

amber_pebble_8491

Our daughter's daycare reopened today after its summer break. They've asked that the under-ones do half days, pickup at 12.30, until the 3rd of July, so they 'resettle'. She had been doing full days without trouble since March. My partner isn't working this year but is doing a short course in the mornings till the end of the month, so she can manage maybe four of those days. I have clinic or surgery almost every weekday and can't walk out at noon. No family in the city. Is the half-day period usually firm? And what did other two-working-parent households do for those weeks?

7 comments

  • peach_lantern_1764

    two weeks of 12.30 pickups is a test of every adult in the family. ours was years ago and my mother did most of it. i still owe her.

    • amber_pebble_8491

      That's exactly our gap. My partner's four days, and then six days that nobody has yet.

  • maple_chai_5354

    Ask them directly whether the half days are required or only recommended. With our son, long ago now, the daycare's 'two weeks' became three days once they saw he had settled. They plan for the child who struggles most.

  • linen_drum_3385

    I'd ask whether she can stay till after the lunch nap instead. With my son's daycare we were allowed 2.30 pickup from the third day, once he was eating and sleeping there. Noon is the hardest time for anyone working ❤️

  • cedar_camera_9153

    Ours did this too after the summer break, one week though, not two. I swapped my on-call week with a colleague so I could do the afternoons. Not possible for everyone, I know.

  • umber_balcony_700

    What does the resettling routine look like on those days? If she simply sits with a teacher until 12.30, a babysitter at home for the afternoons of those two weeks may be easier for everyone than rearranging surgery.

  • fig_bottle_4651

    I'm the pickup parent in our house too. When our daughter had a similar fortnight we split it: partner did mornings, I did afternoons and moved my client calls to the evenings. It wasn't pretty but it was only two weeks, and we knew the end date.

  • basil_spoon_5759

    ours skipped the half days after day 3. he was fine. we were less fine.

    • amber_pebble_8491

      Day 3 here. She cried at drop-off and was asleep on her teacher by 11. I asked about a 2.30 pickup and they've agreed from Thursday, which my partner can cover. Thanks, all.

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