Yes to all of this. I am thinking of the recent Surgeon General's report on parents and mental health, as well. This all ties together: if we cannot work, we cannot provide for our families. If we don't have safe, affordable, positive child-care options, we cannot work. If we want to stay home with children because we can't find safe, affordable, positive child-care options, we cannot afford to care for our children. And so many parents, myself included, often feel as though we are doing something wrong. Like maybe if we took more naps or did yoga more or stoped buying lattes or breastfed or lived closer to our parents who could provide free childcare THEN we would be able to get it right. But, the reality is that the system itself is broken and it is designed to shame parents (especially but not only mothers) to be more creative, work harder, do more to make it work. Diapers are not the issue and to suggest so is tone-deaf.
Oh my goodness, tell me about it! Family of 5 in the DMV (Fairfax County). We pay $950 per week in childcare for three children. We send our toddler to a home based day care (she's amazing and I feel so lucky to have found her) for $350/week. Our almost 5 year old goes to a preschool style day care for $500/week. He missed the cutoff for kindergarten by 8 days, so it's a pay-for-preschool option for us. He loves it, he's thriving, and I think he's better off with an extra year before actual school (he still needs that nap). And our 11 year old goes to after care for $100/week. We tried to make it work with one full time working parent and one part time (of course that was me), but with the move to preschool, I've had to go back to full time. I was lucky that I was able to do that easily, from a work perspective, but I get the irony that I'm staying away from my children more so I can afford to keep them away from me.
We looked into an au pair, but with all the proposed rule changes we didn't want to get caught flat footed on that and have to scramble last minute. Also, we live in a townhome and adding another adult to that living space was hard to fathom.
yes, EXACTLY. The WH is right to address this crisis, but diapers are not the real pain point. I'd much rather see the celebrities endorsing a policy change than a bag of newborn supplies!
I’d like to think they will. I mean, Harris. Baby steps (no pun intended tended). Of course, If the other party gets into office, you can forget about the diapers and anything else.
Yes to all of this. I am thinking of the recent Surgeon General's report on parents and mental health, as well. This all ties together: if we cannot work, we cannot provide for our families. If we don't have safe, affordable, positive child-care options, we cannot work. If we want to stay home with children because we can't find safe, affordable, positive child-care options, we cannot afford to care for our children. And so many parents, myself included, often feel as though we are doing something wrong. Like maybe if we took more naps or did yoga more or stoped buying lattes or breastfed or lived closer to our parents who could provide free childcare THEN we would be able to get it right. But, the reality is that the system itself is broken and it is designed to shame parents (especially but not only mothers) to be more creative, work harder, do more to make it work. Diapers are not the issue and to suggest so is tone-deaf.
Yes, exactly! Thank you for reading and sharing :)
Oh my goodness, tell me about it! Family of 5 in the DMV (Fairfax County). We pay $950 per week in childcare for three children. We send our toddler to a home based day care (she's amazing and I feel so lucky to have found her) for $350/week. Our almost 5 year old goes to a preschool style day care for $500/week. He missed the cutoff for kindergarten by 8 days, so it's a pay-for-preschool option for us. He loves it, he's thriving, and I think he's better off with an extra year before actual school (he still needs that nap). And our 11 year old goes to after care for $100/week. We tried to make it work with one full time working parent and one part time (of course that was me), but with the move to preschool, I've had to go back to full time. I was lucky that I was able to do that easily, from a work perspective, but I get the irony that I'm staying away from my children more so I can afford to keep them away from me.
We looked into an au pair, but with all the proposed rule changes we didn't want to get caught flat footed on that and have to scramble last minute. Also, we live in a townhome and adding another adult to that living space was hard to fathom.
I don't need diapers. I need help. I need time.
yes, EXACTLY. The WH is right to address this crisis, but diapers are not the real pain point. I'd much rather see the celebrities endorsing a policy change than a bag of newborn supplies!
I’d like to think they will. I mean, Harris. Baby steps (no pun intended tended). Of course, If the other party gets into office, you can forget about the diapers and anything else.