Bipolar

[cheekypickle]

I've recently posted on AIBU with my concern that DD is going to childminders too much.

I have recently been diagnosed with bi polar after a depressive spell, spent 6 weeks in hospital. Now coming out of other side of that now. Getting back to teaching on part time basis but then full time in sept

Is it okay that I send DD 10month old to the childminder in the holidays? I will have her for 2 weeks but I feel other 4weeks I'll need time to prepare for new class.

How often/long does your little one go to the childminder? Do you feel guilty about it??

This is a tricky one - my own view (which I think is a bit outdated as I am a grandmother not a young mum) is that children under 3 need one to one care with someone who loves them unconditionally. However you do need to take things stead for a while after your spell in hospital and it may take you a little longer than you think to "come out the other side" (sorry I am not trying to be pessimistic)

I think a childminder is a much better option than a day nursery because it's a more normal life and a CM will have more time for a baby than a nursery. If you were saying that you needed 4 weeks of the holidays to get over your illness then I think that would be a good thing, but I do worry that you feel you need 4 weeks to prepare for your new class. Both my son and dil are primary school teachers, so I do know how much time they work outside of the classroom, and at least one week of the 6 week summer holiday and a couple of days in half term. I know that the work is "never ending" and some boundaries have to be put around it.

Maybe you could consider another option, so that you have your DD half of the day and CMs half day (unless this of course doesn't fit with the CM) I just think this might be better for you (to have a break from prep for new class) and for your DD to spend half the day with you.

However I am sure your DD won't suffer from being with the CM, especially as she is going to be with her full time from September. I think so many families now have to have two parents earning, although the cost of child care is rising too, whilst teacher's salaries have been frozen for about 3 years and no prospect of any change. In fact I read recently that this awful govt is talking about reducing salaries in certain areas of the country where the cost of living is lower.

I wish you well but do take care of yourself - I suffer from intermittent depression (have not fully recovered from severe episode of depression April 2010 and 3 months in hospital) and know how horrid it can be.