A single mom with 2 kids... survival issue!!

[scylla]

Can't you invite someone in Pakistan to come to Canada to look after your children while you are at work?

BTW, IKEA stores does have a controlled-access supervised playroom facility for shoppers to leave their toddlers in a safe area for free while they do their shopping for a short period of time. There is a IKEA store in the intersection of Provost and Sheppard Avenue East in North York. Perhaps the above posters who replied are not aware of this service offer by IKEA!

This service is only available to those shopping in stores for a short period of time (FYI - IKEA is not the only store that offers this service). However you cannot leave your child here all day while you go to work - or while you go shopping somewhere else. If someone ever did this, IKEA would call child services / the police and you would be well on your way to losing custody of your child.

 

[RajeevPillai]

Please make sure you have funds to survive at least for one year. Living in Toronto is expensive and finding a job is all the more tough these days!

 

[steaky]

This service is only available to those shopping in stores for a short period of time (FYI - IKEA is not the only store that offers this service). However you cannot leave your child here all day while you go to work - or while you go shopping somewhere else. If someone ever did this, IKEA would call child services / the police and you would be well on your way to losing custody of your child.

Even there are restrictions, but it's free.

 

[Pippin]

Steaky, I am surprised at your response. I can usually count on you for a well reasoned reply. Anyone coming to settle in Canada under FSW with the expectation of surviving with the help of free child care and child benefit has to have a reality check or their success could be doomed.

 

[steaky]

Steaky, I am surprised at your response. I can usually count on you for a well reasoned reply. Anyone coming to settle in Canada under FSW with the expectation of surviving with the help of free child care and child benefit has to have a reality check or their success could be doomed.

I apologize if I offend you.

 

[Pippin]

Oh Steaky I didn't mean it that way, sorry. I was surprised that you would provide any encouragement for someone to leave a one year old in a store while they go to work. I probably misinterpreted your post. I have little knowledge of the laws and customs outside Canada so it may be a common thing to find free child care, etc. in other countries. Just for clarification, Ikea's child minding does have restrictions on the children they will allow in their playroom.

IKEA Ballroom:
Monday to Friday:
10am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 7:30pm
Sunday: 10am - 5:30pm

IKEA ballroom rules
Socks required
Height restrictions apply
Must be potty trained

 

[amikety]

I can't speak for all areas, but most places have laws that effectively limit the stay in "free" childcare like that to 2-4 hours. This is because the "free" areas don't provide meals/snacks and you can only care for a child for so long before requiring to offer them food. (Can't make them eat it, but at least offer.) These types of places aren't setup (typically) to provide food - which works out in two positive ways for them. 1) They don't have to deal with the food safety inspections; 2) Automatically limits the amount of time a child can be in their care.

Just note - it's "implied" in these places that the parents are "on site." (Meaning, in the building, easily accessible.) This means traditional provider-children ratios don't count. It depends on your province, but the ratios can be as high as 1-20. One childcare worker for 20 kids! Your kids won't be getting hands on attention or even group attention. It's more of a free for all. The most kids I ever had in a class was 14 with a teacher (I was the assistant) and even then, it was hard to give all the kids some individual attention from time to time.

 

[newcomer]

Thanks for the suggestions and giving me a true overview.

I think it would be better for me to land there for a month or so , so that I fulfil the basic requirement and then come back and go there again when the little one grows up enough to be left alone. With an empty pocket , moving around in an expensive country sounds a bit unrealistic, keeping the challenges of weathers, and acquiring a job with a kid on my shoulder.

Still thanks for the guidance. I appreciate the ease by which you clear up your queries, just by sitting in front of a table.....which kept teasing me for months.

God bless ya all

I highly appreciate your courage.Honestly,I hate to discourage people but do not want to give false hopes either.

Well,as mentioned by you, after landing you can return back to Pakistan and stay there until the little one grows little older.However,I would like to mention you that in order to keep your resident status,you must live in Canada at least for 2 years in every five years.So,you can live another 3 years in Pakistan but unfortunately the school going age of kids going to Pubic schools is 5 years .Before that period you would have to send him to a private pre-school and thats also not for whole day.Another option is to bring as much funds as possible from Pakistan when you re-move to Canada ,to have some cushion for you for a while ,if you are not able to do/get a job here.

BTW,do you know that you can directly apply for citizenship of your kids (under 18 years of age),once you get your citizenship,even if they have not met the residency requirements.


May God help you in your courageous effort & decision.