Crying at my desk...

Ok, so I had my meeting with the local preschool since DS will be 3 next month. After the evaluation and discussion he qualifies for their Special Ed program.
As much as I had a feeling he'd qualify it still bothers me a little. I know he needs the extra help. They said even him going to daycare full time isn't enough.
He'd be in a class with a Speech Teacher, the regular teacher and I believe and aide to the Speech Teacher.

It will be run like a normal preschool program only he'd get the extra help he'd need. He'd also get taken out to see an OT once a week for an hour.

I WFT for a job I'm really not thrilled with and it's just getting worse (we were bought out by another co).

I work 8-5. I have to leave the house at 6:45AM with my toddler and the baby to get them there at 7AM only to get into work a little b4 8AM. I do leave a little early to get them a little after 5PM.
This program would be 9:30 to noon. How do I get him to the bus then to daycare??? The daycare is in another town so they can't drop them off. I can't afford to pay for a private service and still who would watch DS in the mornings?!
I don't know what to do. I feel like my paycheck goes to daycare and I have the insurance with a little spending money extra that pays for bills.
I just want to leave my job or I need to get fired b/c I'd probably make more on unemployment in NJ.
This is so tough. Then I come into work late with a "request for help" from someone to do something that's not even part of my job and I feel like anyone can do. It's just stupid tedious stuff.
Sorry... have to vent. Stressful morning and just getting worse.

Re: Crying at my desk...

I know I've shared before that we have the same sitution. Fortunately though our daycare is in town so the bus does transport.

I guess you have a couple of options --- switch to a local daycare (which I know would be so difficult on so many levels). Or do you have any neighbors who are willing to put him on the bus for you in the morning and get him in the afternoon? Or even just find someone local in your town via sitter city or something who can do the morning bus and maybe drive him to daycare if you ultimately want him there or just watch him in the afternoon. Do you have any options to work from home?

Re: Crying at my desk...

Many hugs to you

Re: Crying at my desk...

Oh, I'm sorry you got this news, but it's most likely a very good move for him. My son has improved a great deal in his PreK this year (it's integrated but the teachers have degrees in special education so they know how to work with him better). And all his therapy is on site, plus the school is better equipped to offer his therapy. Overall, it's the best thing we did, but I know I was sad that the general daycare we had him in wasn't cutting it also.

Did you ask if he can be bused from the new school to his daycare? My son finishes at 2:30, then gets on a bus and goes back to his old daycare. I think this was a good arrangement for him. He has a very structured environment along with special assistance all day, then he spends a couple hours doing free play late afternoon. It might be possible. I would also ask his new school if they have any recommendations--they may know of other daycares in the area where students go. A final suggestion is to look for someone on sittercity or elsewhere, possibly even someone studying special education if you can find a student in your area to be at your home after school and meet him after the bus.

Of course if you choose to leave your job, that's another thing, but if you can, I would give it a couple more months and see how things are a little further down the line.

Big hugs for you--I know this is a bitter pill to swallow, but it really will be better for him.

Re: Crying at my desk...

I feel for you, I truly do. I was in the place where you are a little over 2 years ago and it sucks. You feel pulled in so many different directions and don't know how you are going to make it all work. As much as you might prepare yourself for the news, it still hurts to hear someone say it out loud. We are over 2 years in and I still sometimes have moments when I feel like I got my son's diagnosis all over again.

My advice is first, take a day or two to just deal with your feelings. Then, pick yourself up and get to work figuring out all the details. It will work out. I am not saying it won't be stressful or that you won't have to ask for help, but you can make it work. The center based program has been so good for my DS and has helped him tremendously.

One thing you might want to look into is if there are daycare/preschools that have their own transportation. Where I am, the county pays for transportation and when he was in a half day program, they would pick him up and drop him off at daycare. There are a couple of private preschools in my area that have their own transportation that will pick kids up from the half day kindergarten program and bring them to the daycare. Maybe there is a place like this where you are that would take him to school and pick him up? Is there anyone who could put him on the bus for you at home and then you would only have to figure out a way to get him to daycare afterwards?

Can you afford to hire a babysitter that would stay with your kids at home who could put him on the bus and take him off? If you are already paying for 2 kids in daycare, maybe this option would be about the same cost?

I'm sorry you have so much on your plate right now. It is really tough.

Re: Crying at my desk...