Sleep is but a breath away.

Me: Hey there! I am calling to see about the Fall registration for my son. I came for a tour a few months ago and you said to call back in June.

Daycare Centre: Right. What age group is he?

Me: Well, he's actually only 14 months old but he'll be 17 months old by the time September comes. I was told enrolling him a month earlier wouldn't be a problem.

Daycare Centre: Right....of course. Did the toddler room supervisor indicate that there would be spots available at that time?

My heart sinks. I just knew this sort of questioning might happen. At the tour way back in March, I wanted to give the Centre money, gold, anything at all to secure a spot for baby. They promised that there should be a spot for him come June. Can you say "promise," and "should" in the same sentence?

Me: Yes, yes, totally. In fact, she said there would be three spots in the Fall. (I begin thinking of what jewelery I can give up for bribe money.)

Daycare Centre: Alright, then why don't you come in tomorrow and fill out some forms about your child. As long as he is walking by September then it shouldn't be a problem....

Me: Right......Sure......he's walking..........

I would put baby on stilts if I needed to.

Ok, so the whole daycare thing has been a bit of a mess. Currently, I am on two waiting lists, one of which told me to that baby could basically earn a PhD by the time he is able to see the inside of their building. Ya, thanks for that. But really, what the eff is with this city and it's catastrophe of a daycare system? We live in what would be deemed a "transitioning neighbourhood." In other words, our neighbourhood has six Cash Money shops and young women who bounce around with their Bugaboo strollers. We have lots of dollar stores, and one organic meat shop. I like that I can peruse my local fruit market and get great veggies for cheap and grab 3 dozen tulips for $10.00. I suppose being in a "transitioning neighbourhood" means that while the newbies to the area have money, the local shops and businesses remember that the older locals may not. That being said, we have plenty of daycares in our area-seven that I know of. I hadn't even given the cost of daycare a second thought while I was pregnant. Sure, it would be costly, but look at our neighbourhood. Really, how much could it be?

Oh sweet, naive me. Sweet, sweet naive new mom me. Sweet, sweet, sweet, naive new mom me who was just quoted $85/per day for 5 of the 7 daycares in her area. Say what?? Surely, the woman on the other end did not just say $85.00??

Me: (choking on own saliva) Excuse me? It sounds like you said $65 per day??

Daycare #1: Oh, no, no, no. I said $85 per day. And there is a waiting list.

Me: Can you believe I was just quoted $85 per day? Really, that's absurd. What's your price now?

Daycare #2: Umm....our's is the same price. You can apply for a subsidy if you want.. But we have a waiting list to get in with one.

Me: So.....I was wondering....

Daycare: Sorry, we have a waiting list and we are no longer accepting applications. (Hangup)

So let me get this straight: Girl goes to University. Girl travels. Girl goes back to school. Girl marries. Girl gets good job in her field. Girl has baby. Girl is sleepless for a while. Girl goes back to work. Girl earns more money on E.I after the daycare is paid.

Does this make sense to anyone? 

In the meantime, our little one is with his Auntie FiFi (a very patient, loving, nurturing mom herself) and then it's Nana and Grandma for the Summer until he walks and can go to a private daycare centre in the Fall (that we will only pay $175/week for. Score!) 

The only question that remains is this: Does anyone have a baby sized pair of stilts I can borrow?