Working Moms & commuting into the city

I'm just wondering how many of you commute into the city?

If so, what's your day like? What time do you get your kids ready and make the train? How many kids and whats the childcare situation?

Sorry for all the questions but can you tell I will be commuting soon.
I just need reassurance that its doable!

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

I commute from the philly 'burbs to downtown philly everyday.

My train is about 20 minutes. My house is about 5 minutes from the train.

Most days, hubby takes care of my daughter, gets her dressed, packed and drops her off at school. I go into work really early.

But on days that he can't, I'll shower before she wakes up - she gets up at 7am so I make sure I'm dressed and ready by then.

I wash her face, brush her teeth, change clothes, give her some cereal and milk for breakfast, and pack her into the car and drop her off by 7:30am. I catch the 7:45am train, and am in work by 8:15am.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

I'm don't know if I'm much help, as it sounds like you'll be using childcare outside the home.

We have a nanny, so it makes it a little easier. DS is still sleeping when I leave at 7am. I'm on the 7:19am train, and usually get the 5:26 or 5:44 train home.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

You can do it! I just started a job on LI, but until last week commuted from Lindenhurst..
5am-got up showered, got ready
6/6:15-got DD up, nursed, dressed, etc.
6:45-left for daycare (about 10 minutes out of my way)
7am:got into daycare, dd settled
If I was lucky caught 7:15 train from Lindy..
Otherwise took the 7:43 to Penn, got to work abt 9:10 (55th & Bwy).
4:50 left work for 5:13 train to Babylon
6:15 to got to Lindy
6:30 to daycare
6:45-50: home
then did dinner, bath, bedtime in that order
8pm:dd usually asleep by then
8:30-9: finished bottles, washing that day's bottles (we don't have a dishwasher), getting everything together for daycare and some dinner for me.
9:30/10-ish: bed for me!

Basically since I was pick up/drop off (DH works nights in Queens, don't ask), I just got a job in LI to make my life a little easier.. I hope it works better for you! FM if you have ?/need encouragement!

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

I commute from Brooklyn to the city (which is about a 40 minute ride). My MIL now watches DS. She comes to my house around 6 am. I am usually dressed by the time she gets there so that all I have to do is finish getting ready. I am out of the door by 7 am. I get home around 6 pm. DH works nights so he is with him when he gets home.

Message edited 8/24/2007 4:21:35 PM.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

I leave at 7 and sometimes don't get home until 7-7:30. It was much easier when I lived in Lynbrook and was close to the train station. East Meadow doesn't have a station so it adds to my commuting time al ot. My DH drops my son off at 6:45am.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

Honestly, it is definitely do-able, but tough and I have found that the key is to be very organized and prepare as much as possible the night before for the next day. I did this for 4 months and then decided that I didn't have it in me to never see DS and got a job on LI. My job required long hours but if you have regular hours it will be better for you than it was for me.

But when I was commuting:

5:45 am - wake up, shower, dress
6am - DS up, give him quick bottle and change diaper
6:30 - drop DS off at my mom's still in his pajamas
6:50 - park at LIRR and take train
8:30 - arrive at work
5:30 - 7pm (depending on day) - leave work
7 - 9pm - pick up DS and get home - if it's early, I feed him and put him to bed, if it's late then my mom has fed him and he goes straight to bed

DH's schedule varies greatly so the days when he was around, he helped with the pick ups and drop offs. Weekends for us was all about spending time together as a family.

FM me if you want more info!

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

Wanted to add - it helps tremendously to have everything done the night before, which includes packing lunch, setting out clothes for yourself and your children the night before, clean all the bottles/sippy cups so everything is ready to go the next morning, and pack their bags.

It's hard at first, there's no getting around it, but you'll hit your groove. It's definitely do-able.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

Thank you so much! I am in a definite funk and need encouragement! I am going from a 15-20 minute by comfy car commute to an hour commute on the LIRR. My job is relocating and I have really good benefits here. I don't know why but I am soo stressed over this!

I just need reassurance from the other working moms that this is doable! And there are other moms out there too doing the same thing.

ETS I have grandma care but I have to bring dd to her in the mornings.

Message edited 8/24/2007 5:10:40 PM.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

Hey Irene! Sorry to hear you're going into the city Are you still at the same company? They are ALWAYS moving depts around - soooo confusing

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

When I was commuting in 3 days a week (a 2 1/2 hr commute each way) - My Dh would drop off DD in the am (to daycare), and I would pick her up in the evenings. It's absolutely doable. Try not to stress about it.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

I drop Bella off in the mornings and DH picks her up in the afternoon. He is a carpenter, I work after 9 am, so Bella is in daycare from like 9-3.

It's nutso some days, but I love my morning time with Bella all by myself, and now she tell ME to Vamanos in the morning

And my commute now that we have moved, is under an hour. can be as little as 45-50 minutes door to door.

Re: Working Moms & commuting into the city

Posted by Teri

Hey Irene! Sorry to hear you're going into the city Are you still at the same company? They are ALWAYS moving depts around - soooo confusing