OP here. Thank you all for the useful advice and congratulations!

We'll see how it goes, but I think I'm leaning towards what so many suggested - staying home full-time for the first year and then looking into setting up a small home daycare for when the babies are older.

I am going to be a single parent by choice, which is why I'm quite prepared financially, and my mother lives a 15 minute walk away and wants to be very involved, so I think I'm going to follow a PP's advice and see if I can get an early mornings/short afterschool job once I've figured out life with two babies while my mother and/or sitter watches the kids.

As for bringing the babies to work with me, my current afternoon family was very open to this idea. They have a 6yo, 4yo and a nearly 2yo with special needs, and I've been with them for nearly four years. Last year I had a late term loss, but the plan had been for me to bring the baby to work with me a few days per week - it would have been great and the parents (and me) were confident I'd still pay my charge enough attention. But that wasn't meant to be, and now I'm having two... which personally makes me not so confident that I'll be able to give my charge enough attention - especially now that she's about to start walking. But they're moving almost two hours away a few weeks before I'm due, so that's not really a question.

In any case, thank you all for such a helpful and supportive (might I say unusually so for DCUM) thread!

I don't know of too many employers who will let you bring your children to work with you. I wouldn't do it myself, but if you find someone who will, go for it. I had a friend who boss wouldn't hear of her child breathing let alone coming to work with her. Some people think that your children will rob their children of the attention you should be showing them.

Maybe I missed this, but are you a single parent?

I'm asking because if you're not, then daycare eating *most* of your paycheck is not a huge deal. It's an investment in your working future, which would presumably mean stability for your family in the long run.

Also, if you have two part time jobs now, what about just an after-school/evening job, so that you could pay for part time day care, your partner could pick them up and do the dinner routine, and then you'd get home?

First of all, a huge congrats on your baby twins!!!!

Your entire life will change in June & it is best to be as prepared as possible.

For the first year, simply be their mother.
Full-time.

Good for you for planning ahead w/a financial cushion.

Then once the kids turn 1 or 1 1/2 yrs. old, you could look into getting a childcare license in your state for an in-home daycare business which will allow you to both stay w/your children, but also to financially support them.

Stay home with them the 2 years like you planned.

The 1st year just focus on them and getting your feet as a mom. Being a mom is different from being a nanny ( I'm a former nanny) when your kids are about 12 months start looking into licensing requirements for a home day care so when your kids are 2 you will be ready to go. Congrats nd good luck!

What about providing before/after school care for elementary students, plus being back up care (for those same students) for snow days, teacher work days, spring break, etc.?

I think doing care of other babies/toddlers along with your twins would be exhausting and lead to burn out, but elementary kids aren't nearly as much work. You could do it out of your home, or go to the kids' home--I always see on here how hard it is for parents to find (and keep!) the before/after school nannies.
That way, you'd also get the quality time with just your babies during the middle part of the day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to work after 2 months of having my baby. My mother in law helped me. But I'm sure you can find a stay at home grandma, and you can pay her $300 a week

You've got to be kidding to suggest paying anyone $300 a week for full-time infant twin care, unless you want them crying in their cribs all day. People like you are beyond belief.

I think precisely because I have spent years working as a nanny I am never going to even entertain this idea. First of all, no one can live on $300 a week, and second of all, a grandma who will be happy to be paid $300 will not do more than keep them alive, and I'd quite like them to get a bit more than that!

Thank goodness for wise nannies and parents(!) like you.
Congratulations on your babies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to work after 2 months of having my baby. My mother in law helped me. But I'm sure you can find a stay at home grandma, and you can pay her $300 a week

You've got to be kidding to suggest paying anyone $300 a week for full-time infant twin care, unless you want them crying in their cribs all day. People like you are beyond belief.

I think precisely because I have spent years working as a nanny I am never going to even entertain this idea. First of all, no one can live on $300 a week, and second of all, a grandma who will be happy to be paid $300 will not do more than keep them alive, and I'd quite like them to get a bit more than that!