Seeking Comments/info Day&night Care Chicago, Il

First N., congratulations on getting ready to become a mom. I'm hoping that you are taking good care of yourself; drinking lots of water, taking folic acid, getting rest, eating the proper diet, etc. while you are working towards your future career.

What I think is a good decision about you going back to work, or what anyone feels doesn't make any difference. As a matter of fact, how you feel about it right now may very well change the minute you look at your child. I was prepared to go back to work after my maternity leave, and to continue with my PhD about one year later. I've always had a career, first on Wall Street and then I went back to college and grad school with the idea of becoming a professor. I wanted a child but I always "knew" I would continue with my own dreams too.

When I held my daughter for the first time I decided that no one was going to raise her but myself. I quit my job and stayed home for the first nine months until I got a job as a post-partum doula (working evenings) and stayed home with my daughter during the day. I still intend to finish my PhD but I'm not on such a rigid schedule now. I continue to write and do research in my field of education but I am no longer my top priority.

What I'm trying to say N. is don't make a decision now that you may not want to have in 3 more months. Do your research for day care centers (FYI: finding a certified, liscenced center for a child under 3 months is difficult and expensive), I personally have not heard of a night center in Chicago but that doesn't mean anything. Also I highly recommend the book, "A Working Gal's Guide to Babyville" by a Chicago writer named Paige Hobey. I've seen it in Borders, Barbara's and Barnes and Noble. If for some reason you can't find it, or are unsure if you want to buy it, go the www.chicagoparent.com and go to "Back Issues". From there, click on May 2006 and scroll down to the article written by Ms. Hobey on childcare. It will give you some tips and you can decide if you want to get the book then.

Good luck to you N.. Make the choice that feels right to you but be aware that how you may feel could change and that's OK. That's what kids do.

I send my soon To Touch By an Angel Daycare and Pre-School In Chicago. The web site is WWW.TBAADAYCARE.Com. Phone is ###-###-####. The Owners Name is Angel Humphrey. The care is wonderful and loving the kids are made to feel like they are family.

N., congrats!!!!! You are going to love being a mother. It's the best feeling a woman can ever experience.
Also, congrats on setting your mind to continuing your education. It's hard to be a mother, student, employee, and a wife. But a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do.
When your baby is born, you may end up changing your plans or at least post-poning them, only for the fact that you are not going to want to let go of your baby and there is nothing wrong with that. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't plan too much ahead at least until your baby is born becuase beleive me, a baby changes many things.
I returned to work when my son was 2 months old and I missed him so much but I had no choice. I had to come to work. However, I have not returned to school becuase I just can't be away from him.
Either way, once your baby is born, make the choices regaridng school and work, that make u feel comfortable.
As for the daycare...my son was a daycare center for a couple of months and to be honest, I never really felt comfortable having him there. The daycare givers in the center acted like they were just there to get paid, not because they like to attend to children. I just didn't like it. My son is now at a home daycare and I absolutely love it!!!! I feel so comfortable having him there. I see the difference in the daycare givers. The daycare giver that takes care him now at the home daycare, treats him and all the children as if they were her own. You could tell she likes what she does and is not doing just for the money to get the bills paid. She is very energic and keeps up with the kids. She takes them to the park (which is at the corner of the daycare), takes them to the back yard to play, to chuckee-cheese, she even has a photographer come in and take pictures of the kids as if they were in school, which is so cute. They even get a class picture. : ) But the most important thing is that she is a 24 hour service so I know this will be helpful to you. She's actually located on 87th & Hamlin. If that is not convenient, her best friend also runs a home daycare just like her and it's located on 63rd & Washtenaw. Following is the full contact information for both of these centers. They are both licensed.
Marcella Davis, My Destini's Daycare
3750 W 87th St.
###-###-####
Tanya, L & R Daycare
6332 S WAshtenaw
###-###-####
If you want, you could even drive by their house. They have big signs in front of their houses.
Hope this information is useful to you and everything works out.

I think that going back to work right after giving birth is great, as long as you are comfortable with it. Your baby (and family and friends) will follow your lead. There are great daycares for infants, but most will only start an infant 6 wks or older, so if you want to start sooner or need nightcare, your best bet is home care.

I would suggest - follow your instincts. Whomever watches your child should maintain an environment similar to one that you would and one who who (and your hubby) feels comfortable with.

The best thing about motherhood today is CHOICE. You can choose to be fulfilled by staying home or by working outside of the home. Both offer rewards and challenges. But the key is to decide what you want for your family.

Good luck.

There is a daycare in Oak Park that is open 24 hours. I think it's called Blocks 24 hour daycare. I have no personal experience with the center, but I belive I have positive things about it.

I'm looking for nighttime care. Have you found anything out about this?