I was working full time as a teacher when my older was born. She arrived during the summer, so I had some extra time off with her before I had to return to work. A couple months before I was to return to work, I started to look into childcare. My husband and I knew we wanted in-home care, but I wasn’t sure where to start the journey. (This was before Google and the internet were pervasive. Yes, I’m that old.) After talking with friends and making several phone calls, I had a good list of prospective providers in our area. I made visits and asked questions (lots and lots of questions), and we made our decision. We did a trial run a few days before the real deal to make sure everything went smoothly. I remember so many details from that day. My mom was here, and we dropped off Tori (no tears from me or her!) and ran a few errands. I made Italian beef for dinner that night. The day went well, and I started back to work knowing Tori was in great hands. Choosing the right care for your little one is a daunting task! Check out Gina Klein’s article on to help you make your decision.
My younger was born in October. I had worked hard to prepare my older for her sister’s arrival. After Ally arrived, Ty went home to get Tori and bring her up to meet her new sister. They stopped in the gift shop of the hospital to pick out a little something for Ally, and Tori chose a balloon that read, “Happy Boss’ Day.” She liked it because it had a frog on it. I liked it because of the subtle message that there was a new boss in town. If you’re expecting your second, third or fourth, check Kristina Light’s article for tips on how to prepare for adding a new member to the family.