Single mom infant care
Update: wow. I feel attacked for just gathering information. Everyone is acting like I am intentionally trying to take advantage of someone. I am just gathering information.
Hi! I am preparing to become pregnant as a single mom in a small midwest city. I am self employed and my hours vary and can be unpredictable and last minute. Im at the early stages of trying to decide if an au pair is right for me. I would want the first three months to be just me and baby but then I am interested in hiring an au pair.
Would love thoughts on doing this as a single parent, last minute requests for help (of course while respecting vacation time etc) and am concerned it will be lonely for them in a smaller city. Would they find it uncomfortable living with just one other adult? Would they be okay acting as mother’s helper some of the time if I am home?
I will not be able to afford a car for them but will happily pay for uber trips etc. I do wish they were able to prepare meals for the full family but understand that cannot happen. I am pretty flexible and genuinely want this to be a good experience for them.
I am also buddhist so would absolutely love to find a buddhist au pair and am very excited about the cultural exchange aspect.
Finally, my biggest concern is attachment issues for the child. I am afraid it wont be good for them to get attached and then have to say goodbye every two years