To keep DD at expensive private day nursery?

[itstoocoldtoday]

I’m changing my hours next year because DC1 starts school. So my days will be compressed, starting late and finishing early.

DD turns two in July. This means I could switch her from expensive day nursery to the local preschool, which takes children from two and is open 9-3 (no wraparound.) It isn’t connected with any of the local schools. DS goes there now.

However, as lovely as it is, it doesn’t feed them and that’s a massive weight off my shoulders knowing on the days DD attends she eats a healthy and well balanced diet that I don’t have to make or persuade her to eat.

Then there is a difficult parent at the preschool with a son the same age as mine and a daughter the same age and while I wouldn’t avoid it altogether for this reason in its entirety does feel like keeping DD at nursery would be best. DH thinks preschool is a more sensible option. Help!?

Is there a compromise option where you switch her next year instead when she is 3?

Then you save some money and perhaps by then her food issues will be better

Problem with that is that she attends three days a week so it would mean one day at one setting which isn’t ideal really.

I don't understand why you are changing your hours because of your DS starting school, when his pre-school provision is already school hours only? Sorry if this has been explained already

@effie19 I was on maternity leave when he started at the preschool. It’s two days a week (DS is old in the year) one day is when I don’t work and one day I don’t start until half nine and finish at half one but that was just luck, so decided to keep him there as he was settled.

@itstoocoldtoday why is the parent difficult??? what is it that annoys her???

What's the backstory with it all? Hard to gauge how much of an issue it really is without more info. Presumably you met her because of your son? But they're different ages so how did you spend enough time together to fall out?

Our sons are the same age, or the same academic year at any rate (hers is a bit younger.) I didn’t know who she was but I realised at a party that I worked with her sister years ago and she had to be disciplined. It was years ago, over a decade, but she clearly isn’t over it! Problem is it’s a small community (only fifteen children) so it’s not like you can just blend in a bit!

What's the cost difference? I think that's key. You could do a hot flask pot for pasta or other things. Yes it's more work but if you're saving hundreds a week...

A child almost ready for school in pre-school is very different to a just turned 2 year old.

I would keep her in nursery. Ignore all the people frothing about her eating - it's a pretty well-known phenomenon that toddlers will eat basically anything they're given at nursery and turn their nose up at it at home.

Also - there's a lot to be said for cutting yourself some slack here - you're a mum of two, going to have to juggle pick ups from two different places regardless, plus work, plus all the boring household stuff. If you can make your life easier, why wouldn't you?

The preschool sounds like faff.

Your DH is zero help so he doesn't get to have an opinion, you have final say on this.

In real life, it's normal to be happy for someone else to feed your child in the day and not have to bother with packed lunches.

I mean it seems odd to me that you had her at private so she got everything you wanted, but DS went to the the local preschool where you had to deal with all the boys you don't want.

But that's immaterial. If the change in pay and the cost of childcare isn't a problem, then do what works for your family.

The only question would be what are the hours. Someone's available I assume from 3 to pick up DS, is DD then in nursery til late to accommodate your work hours? That's the bit I wouldn't like. I wouldn't want her to be doing longer hours

but DS went to the the local preschool where you had to deal with all the boys you don't want what?

Thanks @LazyArsedMagician and @RockingBaby889 - sorry, that post took me aback a bit!

Go for convenience every time. If you can afford a more convenient option, do it (and if it makes sense to you as convenient it doesn't matter that PP wouldn't see it as convenient). It's not like you can't switch to pre school in a few months/year if you want to.

If DH thinks pre school is better he can sort all the pick ups and drop offs and meal cooking to accommodate it!

Also longer hours at nursery are quite different from school, especially starting school, so that wouldn't bother me either.

I have a tricky to feed 4 yo who's now at school and would love you to back to nursery days where she had 3 meals provided for her!
We did 3 months at a nursery where we had to provide food for her and I swore never again if there was another option!

As an aside is snotty parent’s DC going your DS’s primary? Just being nosey 🤣

No - I would have actually chosen a different school if she had!