Designing Your Own Childhood System

My husband and I will be having quintuplets in the fall of 2013.  We are both full-time educators.  My husband teaches music education and dramatic literature.  I am a Head Start Director.  My husband also is a professional classical singer.  We both speak English.  My husband speaks Italian and Spanish, as well.  In anticipation of parenting quintuplets, we are in the process of researching childcare costs, which includes hiring a possible Nanny or Au Pair.  The majority of our family members reside in Mississippi.  We reside in the DC area, as we are the only members of our family that reside on the east coast.  


One of our immediate challenges would be securing a strong support system, as it relates to caring for quintuplets.  The costs of child care and health care for quintuplets are also another challenge.  Needs include the early health needs of our children which are likely to be premature.  Our needs include having access to community resources which would ensure us having an opportunity to become educated in possible health risks, as well as, needed health care of premature quintuplets. 

Having access to adequate health care insurance is a plus, as we both have excellent health insurance plans.  However, we will need access to additional community resources that can link us to additional health resources that are available to parents of multiples. 

As we are both full-time working parents, child care is also another challenge.  Having access and resources that can connect us to Early Childhood Development Learning Centers/Early Childhood Education Programs would help us to peace of mind as it relates to ensuring that our quints would be receiving high quality child care.  The challenge is affordability of these services.  

In the area of Family Leadership and Support, we will need to obtain additional information in regards to parenting multiples.  It would be helpful to receive assistance in locating various support groups for parents of multiples, as well as, community activities that promote networking among parents of multiples, as well as, children who are apart of multiples.