AS YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK SINCE JANUARY TAKING CARE OF RHETT. WELL RHETT IS NOW BETTER, AND WE ARE BROKE. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR WORK AND FINALLY GOT HIRED, AFTER 16 INTERVIEWS. NOW THE PROBLEM, I CANNOT FIND CHILDCARE!?! DOES ANYONE WATCH CHILDREN, OBVIOUSLY I NEED REFERENCES, BUT I HAVE SEEN POSTS IN THE PAST ABOUT CHILDCARE, CAN ANYONE HELP ME?

I wish I could help, I no longer know anyone watching children at their home. I will keep my ears open for you.

Shannon congrats for hubby getting a job! The 16 interviews doesn't suprise me, jobs are hard to come by these days! I hope that it will work out great for you all.

I also hope you get plenty of feedback. Give us an idea of the vicinity you are looking at that you would prefer childcare. I would think you would want it close to where you live, work , or where hubby works.

Good luck!

SOUTH LAKELAND, CENTRAL LAKELAND, BARTOW?
I'LL TAKE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT

Try Arbors over in Lakeland.... they will give you a list of daycares and home daycares that have met certain standards. Also while you're there you can apply for assistance with daycare costs. I've heard there is a waiting list (I was on the waiting list 6 months) but they pay a portion of the daycare depending on my income and right now they are still paying a nice chunk of the costs. My oldest is on the wait list (she wants to go to daycare during the summer to hang out with her friends from school) but if I lost that funding for my four year old there's no way I'd be able to pay the full tuition!!!!
It's a great program, even if you have to wait.... but they can give you a print out the day you go for child care centers and homes!!
Jen

Jen that is great advice! Thank you for putting that out there!

Shannon, I have an Arbor approved daycare that I know of. A wonderful lady I know named Melissa in Bartow opened up a daycare called ABC Learn and Play. She has taught at Bartow Elementary Academy before. She is smart and compassionate. She also does a lot of curriculum in her daycare with one on one attention for the children. Not only do I know her personally, but my sister's younger children are now in her daycare. My sister loves it!

It is in Bartow, so not sure if this will work out for you or not but the phone number is 533-0102.

Krystal- if you are still looking, I would check it out as well.

I think we'll be putting Hayley in St. John Neumann (Catholic Church) preschool in the fall. Their director was super nice on the phone, and equally so in person. I don't know if they have a scholarship program or anything, but you could call them and ask. They are on W. Carter Road. Good luck!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID (HUBBY) HAS APPOINTMENTS WITH BOTH TOMARROW TO CHECK 'EM OUT. BY THE WAY SHAWN, THANKS FOR THE MELISSA TIP, WHAT A NICE LADY. I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO SOMETIMES WITHOUT MY POLKMOMS CONNECTION.

I know of a girl off of 98s that keeps kids. She also works at FBC in thier childcare dept. If you are interested...let me know and I will give you her number. Congrats on everything going so well for the three of you. I am glad to hear that Rhett is doing so much better.