To day care, or not to day care.

With Joshua's first birthday approaching, and my work load increasing between my full-time job and freelance, I have been playing with the idea of enrolling Joshua in day care part-time. I have ready things like, children who go to day care, develop social and language skills faster than children who do not. But on the other hand, I also know that children who go to day care get sick a lot more often than children who don't.

I was browsing around online at lunch time, just to see what there was locally. Generally, I think most day care facilities prices are ridiculous for most people in this bad economy. But, I did stumble upon a place right in Exeter, where my office is, that offers part-time and per-day day care rates. It would be $50 per day or $225 a week once Joshua turns one next month. I don't really like the idea of day care for a few reasons, like I said before, kids get sick more often when they go to day care, also it's very expensive and we don't have much as it is. But I can't help wondering if he might benefit some from going one day a week. When I am at home with him I am juggling working, him, and all of the other household chores. If he went in one day a week, it would normalize my schedule some, in that I wouldn't have to stay up till all hours of the night to finish a days work when he goes to bed and things finally settle down. And maybe it would help him develop and learn things that a trained teacher/provider can teach more easily that I can, and shouldn't I give him every advantage that I can?

I may fill in the form for more information and the schedule an interview. Can't hurt anyways. I still need to talk to the man of the house about this one. I have a feeling it won't be received well, but we'll see! Any ideas or thought are day care are more than welcome! I'm curious how other people feel about this topic.