Going broke paying for snow day camps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be grateful that you CAN shell out the funds, even if it pinches you later. I live in a mixed income apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from a doctor's appointment to find out that my neighbor left her eight year old home alone. The little girl was so thrilled when she heard a key turning in the lock of my apartment that she rushed and opened the door, thinking it was her mom returning. A quick run to the store is one thing, but to be gone 9, 10 hours is unfair to an ES age kid.

Your post makes me so sad for that little girl and her mom. I wish her mom knew someone to exchange childcare time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher who is home with my kids during snow days, I would be happy to watch your kids once or twice in these situations. Just ask--you never know!

Another teacher here. I'd be happy to babysit for a lot less money than a camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be grateful that you CAN shell out the funds, even if it pinches you later. I live in a mixed income apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from a doctor's appointment to find out that my neighbor left her eight year old home alone. The little girl was so thrilled when she heard a key turning in the lock of my apartment that she rushed and opened the door, thinking it was her mom returning. A quick run to the store is one thing, but to be gone 9, 10 hours is unfair to an ES age kid.

Exactly. Most people in the US are in this parent's situation. Most of my students are left home alone either by themselves or in the care of a sibling. They can't afford any kind of care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be grateful that you CAN shell out the funds, even if it pinches you later. I live in a mixed income apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from a doctor's appointment to find out that my neighbor left her eight year old home alone. The little girl was so thrilled when she heard a key turning in the lock of my apartment that she rushed and opened the door, thinking it was her mom returning. A quick run to the store is one thing, but to be gone 9, 10 hours is unfair to an ES age kid.

Your post makes me so sad for that little girl and her mom. I wish her mom knew someone to exchange childcare time.

This also makes me sad. One of my friends is a single mom and she started leaving her child alone at home for unexpected closures a lot earlier than she was comfortable with. She didn't have a choice. The school closures create a lot of hardship for families.