Hello! This is a slight continuation of another thread, so I feel like a total Mumsnet-botherer today, really sorry, but here goes anyway. My DD has been with a childminder and now nursery since she was nine months, she's now nearly two. I work FT but tend to pick her up by 5 at the latest, often a bit earlier, and often don't drop her until 9, so she's not doing five really long days.
Anyway, parting has always been hard, she has always got very upset. In terms of the rest of her day, we have had slightly better periods and worse periods (going through the latter now). During the less good, she is tearful throughout the day and now that she can talk, she is apparently constantly asking for mummy and daddy. During the better periods she is just, in the words of nursery staff, quiet.
I've had some really helpful advice on another thread about the goodbye being the difficult part and how to manage that, but I honestly don't know if that's all it is. On the other hand, once she's home, she's happy and on the whole I would say that she's secure and confident.
Part-time isn't an option at the moment, my job wouldn't allow it. Giving up work would be an option financially (only just) but would mean I would find it almost impossible to get back into this career, which I absolutely love and I've fought hard to get into.
The question I constantly ask myself is whether, given that DD is not and has never been entirely happy in childcare, should I make that sacrifice? It would feel like a big one .... no, actually, an absolutely massive one. But I guess I am currently putting myself before her and that's wrong. Isn't it? Is there anyone in a similar situation and what did you do/have you done?