Back to work

Today Evelyn is three months old.  It seems to me that I shouldn't be obsessing about returning to work yet, but for the last week or so I have.  I got a call from HR last week asking what my intentions are for the next school year.  I was very honest with HR telling them that I really wanted to be able to take the year off, but I'm not sure that I can do it financially.  HR gave me some numbers to call, namely the Quebec Parental Plan (QPP) and Employment Insurance.  

When I called the QPP, it was an outright no.  Monies must be collected within one year of the child's birth.  EI wasn't so cut and dry.  The woman I talked to couldn't find the answer and even admitted that she had never been asked that question before!  I find that super hard to believe.  Anyways, her final answer was that she had no definite answer but that if I wanted to wait until December 2008 and then apply, I was more than welcome.  That just didn't cut it with me...

So, here I am.  I am restarting work January 19th, 2009.  I'll be going back two weeks after school starts after the Christmas holiday.  Why two weeks?  In my brain, this is enough time for Evelyn to get accustomed to daycare.  My mom has said that she will take her once or twice a week and the rest of the week she'll be in daycare.  I'm sure that she'll be fine, it's me that will need the adjustment.  Why is this so hard?  I love my job!  I love teaching, I love the kids I work with...  I just love her more...

Stay tuned for more rants (I'm sure)...

Snow Storm

We survived another one...  How many is that this year?  5 or 6?  This one took the cake...

As you can see, the snow around the walk is way over my head in some spots.

In the back yard, there is a ramp that Evelyn could potentially build a snow fort in (if she could actually do such a thing).  It took three hours to clear the driveway, walk and deck.  

Will there be more on the way?  Only mother nature knows!

Going back to work...

Frustrating...

Evelyn is going to be three months on March 19th, and I'm already starting to think about going back to work.  I really didn't think I'd have a hard time going back to work - I really like my job and get a lot out of it.  But the idea of leaving her is really upsetting!

You'll probably laugh at me, but I finally called some daycare centers yesterday and the wait to get in is two and a half years!  I could have put my name on a list the minute I found out I was pregnant and it wouldn't have made a difference!  What the hell!!!  Now I have to start looking into either private daycare or having someone come into my home.  Oh my god!!!  What do I ask someone with whom I'm trusting my child's life?  

This is the problem.  I am scheduled to go back to work in January 2009.  Ideally, I would like to take the rest of next year off, only returning to work in September 2009.  This would make Evelyn 19 months old when she went off to daycare which sits a little better with me.  She'll be talking a little and could potentially be potty trained.  I'm not sure we can swing this financially and that's what's getting to me.  I need to find a way...

How can I leave this face???