First of all we wouldn’t be able to do this if we didn’t have a good solution for childcare, especially since our baby is so young. Without relatives in the vicinity or anywhere on the continent, we had to go with the next best solution. After weighing the pros and cons of a private nanny versus daycare center, we opted for the day care center. Place for babies at good day care centers (or “Kinderkrippe” as they call it here) are normally reserved before the child is even born. Our company helped us by becoming a member firm of family service organization that reserved a space at a private day care center for Kenneth way back in January. I opted for this day care center because it separates young babies (the “Cocolinos”) from the older kids (i.e. those who can walk on two legs, have a full set of teeth, like pulling babies’ hair, etc.). The ratio is also quite good—two care-takers for a maximum of five babies.
Despite the respectable day care situation for Kenneth, I still have guilty feelings about going back to full time work while he is still so young. Most mothers in Switzerland go back to work part-time, if they even work outside the home at all. Of all the new mothers whom I got to know during my maternity leave through various classes, play groups, and in the neighborhood, I am the only mother working full time. Kenneth is the only baby in the Cocolino group who attends full time (i.e. 5 full days a week).
In order to successfully manage motherhood and a career, you have to be able to come to terms with your guilt in some way that makes you feel comfortable. Each working mother probably has a different way of dealing with their guilt. For example, I feel like I’m easing the guilt by continuing with breastfeeding and going through the hassle of pumping at work once a day. I tell people the reason why I am still nursing him is to provide him with antibodies/immunities to ward off illnesses he’s sure to catch at day care…Another way I cope is by ensuring that Kenneth is at the Kinderkrippe for no longer than 8 hours a day (i.e. just one-third of the day according to my friend Debbie) and by maximizing the time we have with Kenneth.
The secret of our success is teamwork and outsourcing. Fortunately, we work at the same company and our jobs rarely involve unpredictable, open-ended meetings. We are able to coordinate day care pickups and dropoffs, as well as things like pediatrician appointments, etc. We also decided to hire extra help for the household, so that we can have more time to spend with Kenneth after work and on the weekends. Through the family service organization we found Elisabeth, our new cook and home manager. She comes in twice a week and cooks five dinners, does laundry, and even packs up the recycling. It’s a luxury that is worth every Franc!
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