@billyli As someone who currently has one kid in daycare (started at 18 months) and one kid in a Montessori school pre-k, I love being able to have time for my kids, and to have energy to go for a lot of extra curricular and fun activities.
My youngest is going to start Montessori school in September (at 2.5 years old) my oldest is going for kindergarten.
My kids wake up early, so usually I spend 1h30 min to 2h30 min in the morning with them. I love being able not to have them rush in the morning. We have time to play, read books, snuggle, eat breakfast, take baths, all in the morning. I like to be on time for the Montessori school, but if we are late sometimes it’s not a big deal (even though it almost never occurs).
I have time to go to the gym, and relax everyday. The pick up time varies everyday according to their activities. Both kids go for swim lessons, and the oldest also goes for piano lessons, dance class and soccer. The oldest also has Spanish and Yoga included in her school, and art and tumble gym at school for an extra cost.
I try to have all the activities during the weekdays so that we can have fun as a family during the weekends. It looks like a lot of activities, but we also go to the park every day that is not pouring or too cold. My kids ask me for the activities.
My kids make friends at school. Even my 2 year old plays with friends at school and knows their names. There’s hugs and goodbyes every day.
I feel like having the ability to not rush everywhere and being able to let them choose what they want to do is great. I have the utmost respect for working parents, it’s hard to juggle everything together. I have also the utmost respect for full time SAHP that don’t rely on any type of childcare. Not all of us have the same options available. But I am happy with how I am raising my kids, how well adjusted they are, how social they are and how much fun we have together.
I feel like everyone should choose what they feel
It’s better for them, of course given their constraints (money, time and health).
Good luck to you!