The other day, a temp in my department asked me how I felt about leaving R and G in nursery while I went to work. I resisted the urge to truthfully reply ‘Ruddy marvellous, I’d recommend it to anyone’. This led on to a little speech from her about how she wouldn’t trust strangers with her child (she has three) and has heard lots of bad things about nurseries. Her offspring are looked after by their grandmother while she goes out to work, by the way. Before I leapt over the desk, Starsky and Hutch style and lamped her, one of my colleagues (possibly sensing the rise of my hackles) jumped in to the conversation and pointed out how good the nursery was and how handy it was to be near them while I was at work.
In the spirit of open-plan office harmony, I let it go (although I couldn’t resist a catty comment about using family members as unpaid childminders) but who is she to judge the care arrangements for my children?!
The fact is, the girls are clearly thriving at nursery and I love being back at work. I have chosen not to return to the office five days a week so I can work at home some of the time and spend more time with the girls. I believe that three days a week in nursery and four days at home provides the right balance for all of us.
I am really pleased with the nursery. The carers clearly adore R and G (and once again, who wouldn’t? Smug mother strikes again) and the girls beam at all and sundry every time they go through the door.
Quite frankly, the tactless temp can shove her comments up her backside!!
