Well, believe me I have tried. Does NOT work. TO get things DONE I need at least 7 - 8 hours of SOLID work. With a 1yr old is just not going to happen

It seems like you just answered your own question. Since your husband is not on board with daycare, it looks like you will have to work the 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. you suggested. After trying that for a while your husband and you might realize it doesn't work, (you miss out on dinner with them, family time afterwards, bath time, bed time), then he will need to change his mind about daycare. Good luck, it's not always easy, just worth it.

bg, I suggest that you try the new arrangement for a bit and see how the schedule feels. I can see how what you do would be difficult with a lil toddler running around. So, I think the arrangement sounds perfect and you are very lucky!

Try and just look at this arrangement as a temporary situation.

Does he nap? Mine napped from 11:30-3 at 1 yrs old. In a perfect world you can work while he napped, daddy picked up at 2, and then you can work until 7 or so in the evening. You can still have that 1-1.5 hrs in the evening with your kiddo...guiltlessly enjoying the dinner, bath and the bedtime routine. Hopefully, your mil will return before he stops the naps altogether! Until then, your boy will adjust quickly as he will have either you or daddy during the day, so he will be totally fine with it, I bet!

Thanks guys.

He naps AM (10-12), but of course it varies and PM sometimes (2-4).
He is in bed at 7pm and sleeps til 7am.

I think we might try the 2-? schedule w me taking a break to at least read a book and put him in bed...if it works, great...if not, I am a bit lost.

I think a solution will present itself. I really do. until then, take care of yourself and try not to stress. You are VERY good at what you do and I fully believe that no matter what the solution looks like you will find one! You are extremely crafty, after all.

my votes for moving ur shifts too, when my daughter went to daycare she was sick for the whole year and got hubby and i both sick too, so thats something to consider...ive never missed so much work in my life...and she was 3.5 when she started...

Could you hire a nanny maybe? Just throwing suggestions out there

Thanks guys. Yes I think eventually I will adapt to the new schedule, I am going to try catching up and it might be 4 days a week....with maybe a day on wkds here and there just so I don't fall behind. I am SO thankful and humbled by the amount of orders and thankful for having a job at home.....I do not want to stress and spoil the fun, ya know?

A nanny? lol, only I wish.... I was one for 10yrs and I have a pretty good idea of what the rates go around Chicago

Maybe you need to adjust the way you work as well. I know its eaiser to work solid without distractions BUT maybe you can adjust what you do when.

For example maybe you can move to pattern cutting when he is napping, that way when you get solid time, you will have one part already done.

I know change is hard, but its even harder when you are resistant to it. Sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do and suck it up and make it work!

At this time I do not have the luxury of working 8 hrs to get 3hrs of wrk done, I have 90 opened orders and a time frame to deliver it.
I appreciate the suggestion but that is just not an option