Daycare dilema

Just have to write this out I guess.  I love my daycare provider, she's great, she's convenient.  Jackson loves going there, he has learned soooo much and she has a lot of patience with the little boys.  Jackson likes his little friends there, he talks about them (though I don't always know what he's saying).  So what's the problem?  It's expensive.  And I'm a single mom.  And I got a phone call today, well a voicemail because my cell doesn't get great reception at work, from one of the waiting lists Jackson is on.  I have to call back but did some checking when I got home.  It's for a subsidized spot, so I'd save about $350 a month, over two years that's close to $8,000.  That's the down payment on a house, or payment for fertility treatment ;-)

The new daycare is on the way to work, sort of.  It's open 7:30 to 5:30, so I'd have to change my hours.  They wouldn't give him breakfast so I'd have to get him up earlier for that.  There are more kids there, so he'd have more friends, but also perhaps less attention.  There would be girls there, he now only has boys to play with, it might be nice to have a variety.  And if someone is sick, I wouldn't have to keep him home (unless it's him of course).  I mean now there is only my DCP, so if she is sick, she is closed, and I have to take the day off work.  I wouldn't have to take my holidays when I'm told, I could take holidays whenever I want to. 

It is a strange position. If he wasn't doing so well where he is, if it wasn't so convenient, if he didn't like Kristina so much, and if it wasn't so much money... I wouldn't even consider not taking the spot.

Another thing that worries me is there was one write up I found on this particular daycare and they go on about how it's for "families in need" and they are "serving poor families". Well sure, I qualify for a subsidy but I don't think I'm poor!  I mean the subsidy would be awesome, but do I need it?  Am I taking a spot from someone who really does NEED it? 

I will probably call them tomorrow and ask a few questions, will they use cloth diapers, some of their policies, how naps work, things like that.  I'll decide if I want to go and see them, and go from there I guess.  My gut is, he's doing really well where he is.  My head tells me to consider the option... it's a lot of money, and while money isn't everything, it sure makes things easier. 

As a funny side note, Jackson has recently become obsessed with the potty, and has peed on it twice.  DCP is willing to start working on potty training, though I don't think he's quite ready yet.  It is interesting and I wonder how much of it the other little boys there, one who is potty trained, and so he sees this. I'm really not ready for potty training yet!