RTO and No Childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

Awesome. We can all just get on that next week. And finding new child care solutions. And hoping the location of these offices doesn't get changed, and we don't get laid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

I work 7 miles from my job, and it takes me an hour to get there. That’s a two hour commute each day. Are you in some rural area?

Just run or bike to work at that point. When I just started out to finance I would run to work everyday (college runner) to keep fit. 7 miles in an hour is a serious waste.

Can’t bc of the whole being a woman thing. The male bikers at my office seem fine not showering/changing and stink, but sexism still exists in my office so ladies can’t look like garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

I work 7 miles from my job, and it takes me an hour to get there. That’s a two hour commute each day. Are you in some rural area?

Just run or bike to work at that point. When I just started out to finance I would run to work everyday (college runner) to keep fit. 7 miles in an hour is a serious waste.

Have you heard of….disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

Most people commute that much daily, my husband commutes 45-90 minutes each way. He changes jobs every few years so moving makes no sense to uproot the kids and the financial costs behind moving. Most people don't stay at the same job for a lifetime anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre Covid in 2019 the single mom next to me just enrolled kid in day care next to office. She lived Virginia and worked in Bethesda.

No rushing to pick up or drop off kid sometimes she eat lunch with kid and if work late bring kid to office

That only works for little ones. Once they hit school age it doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

I work 7 miles from my job, and it takes me an hour to get there. That’s a two hour commute each day. Are you in some rural area?

Just run or bike to work at that point. When I just started out to finance I would run to work everyday (college runner) to keep fit. 7 miles in an hour is a serious waste.

Have you heard of….disabilities.

Or even age.

[Anonymous]

“Why not just run 14 miles per day to and from work every day”

Thread remains disconnected from realith

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason why 1950s America was better.

For white mothers.
Black mothers didn’t have that privilege

White Fathers, you mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

I'm confused. Have you been working from home full-time with a daycare aged child? Because that's not allowed. Everyone I know that teleworks but has an infant or toddler has someone caring for them during the day.

You trolls have been warned.

Nope, not a troll - anyone that is stressed out about having to find DAYCARE right now is in the wrong and they know it. I absolutely understand the people stressing about before and after care. It's impossible to find elementary-aged before and after care, the waitlists are long, but someone who has a child under the age of 5 who is looking for DAYCARE should have had their child in daycare this whole time. WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

I'm confused. Have you been working from home full-time with a daycare aged child? Because that's not allowed. Everyone I know that teleworks but has an infant or toddler has someone caring for them during the day.

You trolls have been warned.

Nope, not a troll - anyone that is stressed out about having to find DAYCARE right now is in the wrong and they know it. I absolutely understand the people stressing about before and after care. It's impossible to find elementary-aged before and after care, the waitlists are long, but someone who has a child under the age of 5 who is looking for DAYCARE should have had their child in daycare this whole time. WTF?

Cote someone in this thread worried about that.

What is your job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

I'm confused. Have you been working from home full-time with a daycare aged child? Because that's not allowed. Everyone I know that teleworks but has an infant or toddler has someone caring for them during the day.

You trolls have been warned.

Nope, not a troll - anyone that is stressed out about having to find DAYCARE right now is in the wrong and they know it. I absolutely understand the people stressing about before and after care. It's impossible to find elementary-aged before and after care, the waitlists are long, but someone who has a child under the age of 5 who is looking for DAYCARE should have had their child in daycare this whole time. WTF?

The daycare post was in reference to commute time and the new work location: "a daycare that aligns with commute" when you don't know where you'll be reporting. Read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lest you think this is all about federal workers, I have a friend with three children who does not pay for childcare for any of them, including the toddler, because she works from home AND SHE'S NOT A GOVERMENT WORKER. No day care, no extended day, no summer camps, no day off camps. She thinks all of those are "a rip off." I have no idea how she gets away with all of this at work. How does she get anything done? It would never fly in my office, which is a government office. I get so tired of hearing people complain about the government workers not having childcare when it's far from unique to government.

Wow. If you don’t understand the difference between what a private company can and can’t do and what the federal government should and shouldn’t do please get off my payroll.

It is not ethical for any worker collecting a FT paycheck to not have FT childcare for their ES-age children. My comments were not specific to Feds. It’s only after last week that the Board is full of Fed parents panicking about what to do with their children after school, which should be a non-issue from 8-6 if you are currently a FT worker. This issue is not specific to WFH Fed parents. Many WFH parents are also double dipping.

You still don’t understand that making parent come in removes 2 hours from their days and requires 2 extra hours of childcare.

Which is why I specifically said that the hours between 8-6 should be a non-issue for any parent who is currently working from home. I am responding specifically to all of the parents who are complaining about summer and what to do after the bus drops their kid off at 3:30. They should already have that covered if they are truly working FT from home. Obviously long commutes, which will now take a parent outside of the normal hours of 8-6 daycare/aftercare coverage are another issue entirely.

Parents have been working at home 7-3:30. Most agencies have core hours and flexible start stop. I work at home from 7:30 to 4 and have a middle schooler. I don’t feel comfortable leaving them alone in the AM, and after school homework help ends at four. They’ll come home to an empty house every day, instead of a parent. It sucks.

I came home to an empty house every day starting at the age of 10, I turned out just fine. Your MIDDLE SCHOOLER is perfectly capable of coming home at 4:00 and hanging out for two hours. People with younger children are worried for good reason, but you just sound like a helicopter parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

I'm confused. Have you been working from home full-time with a daycare aged child? Because that's not allowed. Everyone I know that teleworks but has an infant or toddler has someone caring for them during the day.

You trolls have been warned.

Nope, not a troll - anyone that is stressed out about having to find DAYCARE right now is in the wrong and they know it. I absolutely understand the people stressing about before and after care. It's impossible to find elementary-aged before and after care, the waitlists are long, but someone who has a child under the age of 5 who is looking for DAYCARE should have had their child in daycare this whole time. WTF?

The daycare post was in reference to commute time and the new work location: "a daycare that aligns with commute" when you don't know where you'll be reporting. Read.

I read it, and she didn't say that. Yes, she said it's hard to find a daycare that aligns with commute but she didn't say how long her commute is. Either way, I would NEVER recommend finding a daycare near work, what about days when you are off work and your child still needs to be in daycare? I wouldn't want to drive my child an hour to daycare then drive home so I can go to a doctor's appointment. That's absurd!! Critical thinking does not sound like your strong suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

You can keep them in their current daycare for the time being. Are they not in daycare?

If your new office is a couple of hours from your day care, which it easily can be, that's not going to work because it's not going to cover enough hours.

Do you normally have these types of problems understanding basic things?

A couple of hours?!?! Then you move. No one sane commutes a couple of hours every single day, you look for housing (and child care) closer to your work.

I work 7 miles from my job, and it takes me an hour to get there. That’s a two hour commute each day. Are you in some rural area?

My daycare was open from 6:30am - 6:00pm. Wasn't ever a problem when I had a one hour commute each day. When my husband was traveling, I dropped my children off at 7:00, picked them up at 5:30. When my older one started K, we got her on the list for before and after care as early as possible and same thing, they were open from 6:30am to 6:00pm. Two pick ups and drop offs was challenging, but I made it work. There was only one day when I was stuck in massive traffic and didn't arrive until 6:15. I called and explained and they stayed late for me, I gave the woman who stayed a $50 gift card the next day. You'll find a way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember hustling pick up and drop off logistics with DH during our kids early years. Both of us had inflexible jobs. Very stressful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

We are supposed to evolve. Just because I did it 15 years ago doesn’t mean today’s generation should have to as well. Why are Americans so infatuated with punishment?

Once again, no one is. It’s the whining and the hysterics of it all.

If we could wave our magic wand, we’d keep at least regular telework, if not full telework. But it’s not happening and a lot of people here are saying it’s impossible to figure out childcare. That their lives are being turned upside down. It’s perspective that is missing.

My kids were in full time daycare, and then before and after care, and yeah it’s expensive. And there are wait lists. BTDT. The hours with a commute are tough too, so I found a daycare that was closer to my office so we could manage the daycare’s hours. I have a long commute and getting my toddler out of bed at 6:30am was hard.

We staggered our tours of duty, we used a lot of leave, we hired high schooler to shuttle one kid to her sport when we weren’t home in time to get her there. We had zero telework then.

I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t have to do that. But reality is this is what’s happening now.

Some of us don’t even know where our office will be so it’s hard to pick a daycare that aligns with commute. Not to mention people normally get on daycare waitlists while they’re still pregnant.

I'm confused. Have you been working from home full-time with a daycare aged child? Because that's not allowed. Everyone I know that teleworks but has an infant or toddler has someone caring for them during the day.

You trolls have been warned.

Nope, not a troll - anyone that is stressed out about having to find DAYCARE right now is in the wrong and they know it. I absolutely understand the people stressing about before and after care. It's impossible to find elementary-aged before and after care, the waitlists are long, but someone who has a child under the age of 5 who is looking for DAYCARE should have had their child in daycare this whole time. WTF?

My kids aren’t in daycare anymore, but before the pandemic their daycare was 7 am - 6 pm. That one closed and the neighborhood daycare we could find (which was 8-6 pre-pandemic) reduced its hours to 8-5. We both work from home so could stagger work schedules and cover this - or take a little leave now and then if needed - but we couldn’t have managed this schedule if we were commuting.