Family includes your child’s father as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Having one parent stay home or work only part-time is a complicated family decision based on a multitude of factors including earning potential, job flexibility, and both short- and long-term career interests. These arrangements may be permanent but are more often temporary when children are very young and before they are old enough for school.

If you are fortunate enough to have it, use unpaid help whenever possible. Such respite usually comes in the form of grandparents or siblings but may include other extended family. Of course, it is very important to thank your helpers profusely on a regular basis.  Tokens of appreciation such as gifts and thank you notes for the love and care given to your children go far. That is not only the right thing to do but it may even keep the help helping!