All the parents saying they can’t afford childcare - what did they do before K?

[Anonymous]

Or do they actually mean they don’t want to pay for childcare? I’m genuinely confused/curious. I totally get that it sucks, but how is it any different than the daycare years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or do they actually mean they don’t want to pay for childcare? I’m genuinely confused/curious. I totally get that it sucks, but how is it any different than the daycare years?

That's like saying that you should be able to pay for anything you've ever paid for, for as long as you both shall live. I mean why can't you pay for college every year? Why can't you pay for braces every year? Why can't you pay your maternity bills every year? You paid it once and didn't die so why not keep it up?

People pay for daycare with the expectation that it is temporary. Also, choices for childcare of school age children are very limited.

[Anonymous]

You suck it up for the daycare years

[Anonymous]

1) A lot of folks spaced their kids so they wouldn't have two in daycare.

2) Most daycares aren't open, so even if you have a spare $2K a month that you could use for a center or whatever, you do not have $3500/month for a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Saved, budgeted and assumed daycare and pre-K was a time limited expense so less contributions to 401k or 529 or some other savings. And yes some I know dipped into savings accounts for daycare expenses.

[Anonymous]

Maybe their elderly parents used to help, but now can’t/ won’t because of covid. Or because now they’re just older and can’t. Maybe people have reduced income because of the economy’s ridiculous crash since January.

[Anonymous]

Paid for FT daycare for one at a time. Now there are three.

Also, paid for an inhome from birth to age four ($270/week). Nanny for three kids is more like $800/week if I am lucky.

[Anonymous]

Maybe their financial circumstances changed.

Maybe a parent stayed home during the daycare years and has returned to the workforce but doesn’t make enough to cover the FT childcare bill.

Maybe they relied on savings or deferred expenses or went into debt to get through the daycare years, and cannot use that strategy now.

Maybe they can’t afford the type of environment that would reduce the risk of disease spread (like a nanny). Large groups with kids coming in and out (like SACC, martial arts places, etc) have the potential to be pretty risky in terms of virus transmission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You suck it up for the daycare years

But they can’t “suck it up” for a once in 100 years global pandemic? This too shall pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You suck it up for the daycare years

But they can’t “suck it up” for a once in 100 years global pandemic? This too shall pass.

You’re so damn privileged. Do you remember that millions of people have filed for unemployment? Many Americans can’t “just suck it up.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You suck it up for the daycare years

But they can’t “suck it up” for a once in 100 years global pandemic? This too shall pass.

It will pass, but when?

[Anonymous]

This is totally different. Not all childcare can deliver an education. Tutors are way more expensive than nannies. And nannies can not necessarily do a quality job teaching multiples age groups so you likely will need to do a lot of enrichment.

We have kids that can entertain themselves but not necessarily teach themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You suck it up for the daycare years

But they can’t “suck it up” for a once in 100 years global pandemic? This too shall pass.

It will pass, but when?

I’d be willing to bet by fall 2021 school will be 5 days again, if not before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is totally different. Not all childcare can deliver an education. Tutors are way more expensive than nannies. And nannies can not necessarily do a quality job teaching multiples age groups so you likely will need to do a lot of enrichment.

We have kids that can entertain themselves but not necessarily teach themselves.

People greatly overestimate how much teaching will need to be done on the days off. It will be homework assignments at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You suck it up for the daycare years

But they can’t “suck it up” for a once in 100 years global pandemic? This too shall pass.

You’re so damn privileged. Do you remember that millions of people have filed for unemployment? Many Americans can’t “just suck it up.”

The unemployed are watching their own kids and don’t need care though.