If you could still utilize childcare, would you?

[Anonymous]

Two parent household- one essential, one teleworker. Two young kids. On days essential goes in, teleworker works half days due to childcare responsibilities- paid leave for now but would be LWOP within a couple weeks. We could qualify for the children to attend a daycare that we know and are comfortable with. We disagree whether we should or not. Partly because one parent thinks this will extend much longer than the end of April. It’s one thing to power through for a month, it’s another to have to sustain for multiple months. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Same situation here and no we aren't using daycare. My daycare has always been open. Our essential worker works later in the afternoon and night. I work 6am-3:00. DH works 1-10pm or so. Kids nap from 1-3pm. It's been really hard and we're stressed out and the kids are now having trouble too. We're still paying full time daycare too.

I'm debating using 8 hours of annual leave a week just to get a break one day and care for the kids. But I worry about using my paid leave now and what happens when I really do get sick.

[Anonymous]

We are not using childcare even though it is technically open and we are still paying.

[Anonymous]

We are paying and are using for short periods of the day. Our child needs the normalcy in the day.

[Anonymous]

In your case, yes. We're very similar in that one spouse is essential and the other has basically been made essential thanks to added work responsibilities. Both can telework. We were sending our preschooler in until daycare closed, and we also have two elementary kids at home. Depending on how this week goes, we may send the youngest to a different daycare if there are spots available.

This thing is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's hard as hell, even from our relatively privileged positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In your case, yes. We're very similar in that one spouse is essential and the other has basically been made essential thanks to added work responsibilities. Both can telework. We were sending our preschooler in until daycare closed, and we also have two elementary kids at home. Depending on how this week goes, we may send the youngest to a different daycare if there are spots available.

This thing is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's hard as hell, even from our relatively privileged positions.

Do the new stay at home orders in Maryland and Virginia change this?

[Anonymous]

Single mom with three kids. Work remotely. I have a sitter (college woman with parents both drs - she’s been living here and I’m paying her for 5 hours a day while I’m working. Kids are 10-13 but she helps w school while I focus on work

[Anonymous]

Our daycare is still open but we are not utilizing. Both teleworking, and it's hard but not impossible. We feel that morally we can't let our convenience (and yes sanity) put other people at risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Single mom with three kids. Work remotely. I have a sitter (college woman with parents both drs - she’s been living here and I’m paying her for 5 hours a day while I’m working. Kids are 10-13 but she helps w school while I focus on work

Smart arrangement. I am sure her parents are happy with it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In your case, yes. We're very similar in that one spouse is essential and the other has basically been made essential thanks to added work responsibilities. Both can telework. We were sending our preschooler in until daycare closed, and we also have two elementary kids at home. Depending on how this week goes, we may send the youngest to a different daycare if there are spots available.

This thing is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's hard as hell, even from our relatively privileged positions.

Do the new stay at home orders in Maryland and Virginia change this?

Not at all. Why would they? Daycares serving essential workers can still operate.

[Anonymous]

We are similar (essential on-site DH + telework DW) and were still able to use our daycare. Numbers were way down to the point that we felt much more comfortable about it (2 or 3 kids in the classroom plus 1 or 2 teachers). However, we're expecting new baby so have now pulled the toddler from daycare because we're getting close enough that no way do we want to risk having the virus in our family during or immediately after delivery.

[Anonymous]

I would if ours is still open. Kids age 4 and almost 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not using childcare even though it is technically open and we are still paying.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Our was open, not sure if the new order today in VA changes that. We are getting a 10% discount which I am sure she is more than making up for with drop-ins.

[Anonymous]

No. It’s too risky. The kids that are still coming have parents working outside of the home, some in hospitals.