Need YOUR opinions tonight, please!

[thegreggersmom]

Hi. I would really appreciate your opinion on this matter as I am stuck right on the middle of the fence and need to make a decision by 9pm tonight (CST). Here's the situation:

My 20 m/o son's daycare had a fire early Tuesday morning and will be closed until Monday. This is a fairly large daycare/preschool/kindergarten with more than 200 kids attending. The family who owns it has two other locations in our area and I can take my son to one of them for the rest of the week for no extra cost (he's already paid up for the month). He will be on the same basic routine that he usuallly is with meals, naps, activities, etc.

I called his teacher tonight to confirm that she feels the other location is just as good since I have never personally visited it. She said it is and that a few of the instructors from our regular location will be over there as well -- but probably not in his room. So, he'll be in a brand new place with a bunch of strangers, but will get the socialization and acitivities he is used to getting.

Then the teacher offered to babysit him at her home. She won't be home Friday but her 17 y/o daughter will be. I didn't ask but I would assume she'd want to be paid (my kid is cute, but he's not THAT cute ). My son and this teacher get along great, by the way.

So, what would you do -- alternate daycare or babysitter? Thanks in advance.

 

[kevschickee]

I would prob do the center since it is already paid up. Good luck on any choice you make

 

[Ennazus8810]

I would do the private sitter. Your son knows her so it should be less traumatic.

 

[smkiya]

Personally the red flag would have gone up if the teacher offered to babysit. I'm not saying that something will happen, it just seems odd, and kind of unprofessional. Unless you have a friendship established with her, I'd definately do the daycare. Try to get him in a class with some of his regular classmates and a familiar teacher from his regular daycare to ease the transition.

 

[Kae]

Kids adjust way better than we do. I would stick the daycare.

Kae

 

[thegreggersmom]

Thanks all! Your input is VERY helpful. At this point I am leaning towards the daycare. I am sure there will be some tears at drop off (heck, I still get them occasionally at his regular place) but I think, all in all, he'll get into the groove pretty quickly.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

The alternate daycare. You're paid up and you know they are licensed and insured.

 

[Hannathy]

How does your child do one on one with strangers? and strange places. Because the DD will be a stranger to your child and it is all day. While the new center will be different there will probably be a sense of familiarity of a center owned by the same chain and also some of the same kids and toys, lay out , etc.

How will paying out another $50. or more, affect your bottom line? Because I can't imagine (having one myself) a 17 yr old watching a toddler All day for less than $25-30 minimum and then you still have to pay her Mom for the other day. Can you afford it on top of the money you have already paid the day car.

Which is more convenient for you to drop off.

 

[thegreggersmom]

Hi. I took him to the daycare and there were some tears but they were done before I left the room. There were also two kids from the regular daycare in his room so I felt a little better about that.

Again, many thanks for your input. I realize I was fortunate to actually have two options!