Making a choice - follow our heart

We had a talk with our helper, Yani one night when the kids were in their slumber. The talk was if she could stay with us for another 2 years as her contract expires mid next Feb.

After much discussion/persuasion, she sounded adamant that she would like to go home for good, after almost 4 years with us. It was a difficult moment for us as Raeyen is still very young and we will have to make new arrangements or even sacrifices come Jan/Feb. Options we have are:

1. No new helper, but Raeyen goes to a full-day childcare
2. Get a new helper before Yani leaves, hubby stays at home for at least 6 months while Kieran continues his Kindergarten but stops going to childcare

We discussed and may choose option 2 as we cannot bear for another child of ours going to childcare as I could vividly remember myself weeping when Kieran entered childcare at 3 years old (2 months after Raeyen was born). It was a painful decision to put him there, seeing him cry and wanting to go home.

Option 2 is not the best but we can't risk putting Raeyen alone with the new helper while we go to work. Hubby volunteered to quit his job and stay at home supervising her and to bond with the kids, especially Kieran. Personally, I like the idea of Kieran quitting childcare. However, that would mean one income less and I may most likely have to kiss goodbye to indulgences such as Biotherm skincare, facials, manicures, pedicures, L'oreal Kerastase haircare, etc. BUT one thing I will not scrimp is to let Kieran continue his classes at Yamaha or any other classes that will benefit him.

We have a choice to make, that is already a luxury. Like the old saying goes, when there's a will, there's a way. Together with my hubby, I'm sure we can make it work and to bring our kids up the way we want. Fingers crossed :*)

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." Robert Fritz