Getting laid off - what to do with daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, where do you live? Have you checked to see if the elementary school you are zoned for has free preK? PGCPS just added free preK to a bunch of their schools as couple weeks ago.

OP here. I live in Montgomery County. MoCo offers free pre-K if you meet their income requirement which is a very low amount and we don't qualify even with one income.

It's actually another 2 years of pre-K for my almost 4 year old. She's turning 4 in Dec. I doubt there would be something I can do at the daycare center which would pay enough to cover even one of the tuition or half of the tuition since we all know that preschool teachers don't get paid much. One poster suggested that I take my older DD out but I feel it's more beneficial for her to stay in school and she's also the cheaper one compared to my DS. I don't know how fast or slow I will be able to find another job... I am guessing on the slower side since I am not in high demand industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

You can't just "hire a (halfway decent, legal) nanny" overnight.

Also, you can't hire a decent nanny for "until you get a spot at daycare." It doesn't work that way.

You can, but it's more expensive than daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, where do you live? Have you checked to see if the elementary school you are zoned for has free preK? PGCPS just added free preK to a bunch of their schools as couple weeks ago.

OP here. I live in Montgomery County. MoCo offers free pre-K if you meet their income requirement which is a very low amount and we don't qualify even with one income.

It's actually another 2 years of pre-K for my almost 4 year old. She's turning 4 in Dec. I doubt there would be something I can do at the daycare center which would pay enough to cover even one of the tuition or half of the tuition since we all know that preschool teachers don't get paid much. One poster suggested that I take my older DD out but I feel it's more beneficial for her to stay in school and she's also the cheaper one compared to my DS. I don't know how fast or slow I will be able to find another job... I am guessing on the slower side since I am not in high demand industry.

If that is the case and you are looking at more than 6 months job search, take them both out now. You'll need the money for other expenses and there is nothing the daycare can do for your child that you can't do yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, where do you live? Have you checked to see if the elementary school you are zoned for has free preK? PGCPS just added free preK to a bunch of their schools as couple weeks ago.

OP here. I live in Montgomery County. MoCo offers free pre-K if you meet their income requirement which is a very low amount and we don't qualify even with one income.

It's actually another 2 years of pre-K for my almost 4 year old. She's turning 4 in Dec. I doubt there would be something I can do at the daycare center which would pay enough to cover even one of the tuition or half of the tuition since we all know that preschool teachers don't get paid much. One poster suggested that I take my older DD out but I feel it's more beneficial for her to stay in school and she's also the cheaper one compared to my DS. I don't know how fast or slow I will be able to find another job... I am guessing on the slower side since I am not in high demand industry.

What industry?

[Anonymous]

When I had this problem (twins that were both under 2, so highest rate), we checked our budget/emergency fund. We decided that 2 months was the break point for us (what we could afford vs the inconvenience of losing the spot). We would keep them in daycare for 2 months and I would very actively search for a job. Fortunately, I found a job after 6 weeks and we didn't end up taking the kids out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leave them both in and take on a job at the daycare while you are looking for job in your field. I know several women who have done
this.

Work a deal with the day care, work at the day care temporarily.

This is a thought. Or even just talk to day care and see if there’s a way to defer the majority of their tuition for a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave them both in and take on a job at the daycare while you are looking for job in your field. I know several women who have done
this.

Work a deal with the day care, work at the day care temporarily.

This is a thought. Or even just talk to day care and see if there’s a way to defer the majority of their tuition for a few months.

Daycares run on thin margins, none will let you defer tuition, especially for two spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I had this problem (twins that were both under 2, so highest rate), we checked our budget/emergency fund. We decided that 2 months was the break point for us (what we could afford vs the inconvenience of losing the spot). We would keep them in daycare for 2 months and I would very actively search for a job. Fortunately, I found a job after 6 weeks and we didn't end up taking the kids out.

This is what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

It’s goi g to be hard to find a nanny for this. Most nannies want job security.

- nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

It’s goi g to be hard to find a nanny for this. Most nannies want job security.

- nanny

Agreed, and if you are hiring a temp nanny for this situation, many of them will want a higher hourly salary, not a lower one due to the lack of job security and knowing that it is temporary only. You might find someone on care.com who is willing to take the position short-term while they are in-between jobs. But be prepared for them to keep looking and to bail on you the minute she knows that she has a better job lined up. She will commit to start as soon as the employer is willing and may give you as little as one day notice that she is not coming to work. But if you want someone reliable that will stay as long as you need, you are looking at a placement more like White House Nannies and that is pricy.

[Anonymous]

I’d absolutely take my kids out. Now.

It’s $3,500 a month. That’s the cost of a decent nanny. Just plan on hiring a nanny when you return to work and keeping the nanny until you get your youngest into a full day preschool in 2-3 years. The nanny will provide you with more flexibility when you start a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

It’s goi g to be hard to find a nanny for this. Most nannies want job security.

- nanny

Agreed, and if you are hiring a temp nanny for this situation, many of them will want a higher hourly salary, not a lower one due to the lack of job security and knowing that it is temporary only. You might find someone on care.com who is willing to take the position short-term while they are in-between jobs. But be prepared for them to keep looking and to bail on you the minute she knows that she has a better job lined up. She will commit to start as soon as the employer is willing and may give you as little as one day notice that she is not coming to work. But if you want someone reliable that will stay as long as you need, you are looking at a placement more like White House Nannies and that is pricy.

Please. It’s not that hard to find a nanny. There are all kinds of postings all over nextdoor. OP can find a nanny when and if she needs one

[Anonymous]

I would have a break point as an above poster suggested. Keep them in for 2 to 3 months if you can afford to do so (or switch to a part time program if there is one available). If you are not well on your way to another job by then, remove them both and reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave them both in and take on a job at the daycare while you are looking for job in your field. I know several women who have done
this.

Work a deal with the day care, work at the day care temporarily.

This is a thought. Or even just talk to day care and see if there’s a way to defer the majority of their tuition for a few months.

Daycares run on thin margins, none will let you defer tuition, especially for two spots.

I’ve been a director at three different programs and have waived / reduced tuition for families in this exact situation at all three. Programs want continuity just as much as you do. In most cases, it’s a very short-term solution that garners a lot of goodwill on both sides. Even if the program doesn’t have a scholarship fund, it’s worth asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave them both in and take on a job at the daycare while you are looking for job in your field. I know several women who have done
this.

Work a deal with the day care, work at the day care temporarily.

This is a thought. Or even just talk to day care and see if there’s a way to defer the majority of their tuition for a few months.

Daycares run on thin margins, none will let you defer tuition, especially for two spots.

I’ve been a director at three different programs and have waived / reduced tuition for families in this exact situation at all three. Programs want continuity just as much as you do. In most cases, it’s a very short-term solution that garners a lot of goodwill on both sides. Even if the program doesn’t have a scholarship fund, it’s worth asking.

Should have also mentioned that, as a parent, I was also able to get my tuition reduced by 50% when I lost a job.

Ask.