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So my wife and I wanted to wait until I returned from my upcoming deployment before we started having children. Sadly it would appear that is not the case and we are expecting a child around the November time period. I will be overseas until May of next year and therefore need to look into options or advice from others who have been through this before.
- My wife is a nurse and works 0700 - 1900 on her work days, meaning most day cares are out
- Family can be made available as they are not too far away, but they have commitments at their own homes a few hours away and cannot dedicate constant support.
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
- My wife is a nurse and works 0700 - 1900 on her work days, meaning most day cares are out
- Family can be made available as they are not too far away, but they have commitments at their own homes a few hours away and cannot dedicate constant support.
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Family
Children
Spouses
Deployment
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 10
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We have 5 kids, my wife is a RN, however we chose for her to stop working outside the home after #2 was born, and we homeschool all of them. When we only had #1, my wife worked 3-4 days a week, 8-12 hour shifts, and was able to schedule them for times when I would be home from work to watch him. (I was working with the IDARNG, so my schedule was very predictable.)
#2 was born ~6 months before I went on a 6 month (179 days) TDY. We lived very far from any family, so my wife depended on local friends for assistance.
#3 was born ~3 months before I first deployed, although my wife was not working, we worked some family visits to assist her (both them coming to us, and her going to them).
#4 was born ~5 months before my second deployment, and my wife did the same with family, and worked with other neighborhood Moms to help share the load.
#5 was born ~4 months before my third deployment, however since we had moved to a new location, she did not have the neighborhood network, so depended on folks from church, and again, family visits for assistance.
Since we homeschool, and my wife stays home, we have never truly researched child care, however, from our friends who do, especially those Dual Military, we have seen Nannys, longer hours daycare facilities, and friends used to cover when both Mom and Dad were unavailable.
Congratulations on your new baby and embrace this phase of your life!
#2 was born ~6 months before I went on a 6 month (179 days) TDY. We lived very far from any family, so my wife depended on local friends for assistance.
#3 was born ~3 months before I first deployed, although my wife was not working, we worked some family visits to assist her (both them coming to us, and her going to them).
#4 was born ~5 months before my second deployment, and my wife did the same with family, and worked with other neighborhood Moms to help share the load.
#5 was born ~4 months before my third deployment, however since we had moved to a new location, she did not have the neighborhood network, so depended on folks from church, and again, family visits for assistance.
Since we homeschool, and my wife stays home, we have never truly researched child care, however, from our friends who do, especially those Dual Military, we have seen Nannys, longer hours daycare facilities, and friends used to cover when both Mom and Dad were unavailable.
Congratulations on your new baby and embrace this phase of your life!
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I would strongly recommend not taking a baby on deployment. Hope that helps!
Just kidding. When I was a drill sergeant the hours were much like your wife's. Get a list of approved child care providers from the CDC on post and do some selective interviewing. Talk to the references. At home providers are much more flexible when it comes to hours, and more likely to be willing to adjust to the parents schedule. When I was stationed at Ft. Hood my wife and I looked in to at home providers for a back up to our normal day care. One of the people we interviewed was keeping a single mothers child for her for her whole deployment. Best of luck and please look at the pregnancy as a blessing as all things happen for a reason!
Just kidding. When I was a drill sergeant the hours were much like your wife's. Get a list of approved child care providers from the CDC on post and do some selective interviewing. Talk to the references. At home providers are much more flexible when it comes to hours, and more likely to be willing to adjust to the parents schedule. When I was stationed at Ft. Hood my wife and I looked in to at home providers for a back up to our normal day care. One of the people we interviewed was keeping a single mothers child for her for her whole deployment. Best of luck and please look at the pregnancy as a blessing as all things happen for a reason!
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CPT Zachary Brooks
"I would strongly recommend not taking a baby on deployment. Hope that helps!"
Glad someone else agrees with me on this. Need to convince the wife now...
Glad someone else agrees with me on this. Need to convince the wife now...
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You could do an in home nanny. Its expensive but it would work in your situation. There are daycares that run late hours because so many of us work hectic hours.
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