Thinking about my return to work...

It's only a few weeks now until I go back to work, it's over 9 months since I taught a class. Honestly, I don't want to go back, I don't want to leave my boy, no matter how much I trust the people looking after him. Whilst, I have missed seeing my colleagues, friends and pupils, but there is real dread about going back.

M & I have thought a lot about what to do for the best with boy-o in terms of childcare. We'd always planned to use a specific childminder, except that she only child minds 3 days a week, and I'm only working 2 of those. She looks after the children of a good friend of mine, and I know another person who uses her for pre and after school care. I've known her a long time and I am confident I am doing the right thing letting her look after David.

She is older and calmer. She is structured and has routines, as well as high expectations. She has lots of toys to play with, but not expensive things, lots of cars, trains, books, dressing up clothes. She makes sure that they are outside for part of everyday. She may not be up to date on the latest childcare ideas, and she is already thinking of the things that she needs to do to prepare for OFSTED later in this academic year. But I don't care about that, she will make sure that my boy is safe, and cared for, in a really good way.

We then had a nightmare as I have to work one day that this childminder doesn't cover. We looked at nurseries, but it didn't feel right. I was talking to a childminder at the toddler group I go to on this day, and she happened to have space on that day - she didn't initially think she could do it, as she have liked to care for a child for more days during the week, rather than just one day.

She is lovely and again calm, although completely different from childminder A. She is very clear about what children should be doing and makes sure that they are developing skills. However she wants to make sure the children she looks after are happy, so if they want to bake, they do, if they want to paint, they do, if they want to play with play dough, they do. She keeps detailed records, and has provided me with all the information I could ever need from her.

They are totally different, but they are both so right for my boy. And if he is happy, then I will be happier going back to work. That's all I really need!