To make life easy for myself this summer and keep youngest dc in childcare?

[cheeseandpasta]

I am a teacher so have gone for term time only childcare. I had my first child January 2021, and so he started nursery just after Christmas 2022. First summer we had together was really nice. I had my DD August 2023, so for the last two weeks of term DH was on paternity leave anyway. Last year was really, really tough. I struggled a lot over the summer.

This year DS starts school and I’m considering switching DD to a year round contract. I just wonder genuinely what the point is in having a stressful and difficult summer when for three days a week she could continue going to nursery, and I can focus on DS a bit before he starts school.

The cost of it does make me feel bad but I also feel a bit mean. Wondering what others think.

I am a teacher. My child is in an all-year round nursery, it was the only one that logistically and geographically made sense for our working routine (and is brilliant!). I have been annoyed financially about it BUT I get so much done, it’s brilliant. DCs routine also stays in place which is great. I know parents who do term time only but it is a battle to get them back into the routine, particularly after the 6 week summer!
if you can do it financially, go for it!

I agree definitely go for it. I have a similar age gap and this summer mine will be 3.5 and 6 - my younger DD is so much better able to join in now and taking both of them out together is fine but the last couple of years were chaos!

Once your DS is at school you have so much less time together and you'll be so glad you made the most of the 1:1 time this summer before he starts school!