Reply to NY Mag: Daycare is Broken

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Reply to "NY Mag: Daycare is Broken"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What's broken is an economy that forces a majority of parents to work full-time in order to make ends meet.[/quote]

I was a SAHM and by necessity lived extremely cheaply - as in, I packed lunch for me and my toddlers when we went on daily outings, dressed them in thrift shop finds, etc..  
Those were financially strained times but it only lasted a few years (although it felt like forever at the time).  When they were nursery/pre-school age they were enrolled in a local church program which is much cheaper than organizations that have to pay overhead rent.  They were only half-day programs but those half-days were a profound gift after years of 24/7 toddlerhood.

They got into good publics which gave me the freedom to work PT and by middle school and high school I am FT and we are financially much more comfortable - as in, I don't have to pack lunch anymore (but I do out of habit!). 
As for real estate, I used my little downtime as a SAHM to project manage my home renovation and thereby jacked up the value considerably.  I also did some of the electrical, plumbing, carpentry and tile work just to keep the contractor moving fast.  I worked on my architect's licensing exam while the kids were in preschool.

There would have been NO WAY we could afford to pay for baby daycare for 2 kids.  Economically, it made sense for me to temporarily SAHM.

Look, having children requires shifts in priorities.  Rather than chase more money so someone else can care for my kids, I chose to care for them myself and temporarily live VERY simply.  I suspect that my hands on parenting has something to do with them testing into great publics which eliminated the need to chase more money for private school.  
Others may choose to live close to family and forge childcare relationships with grandparents.  Again, it's all about shifting priorities and accommodating these small people in your life.  You either throw money at the problem or make different lifestyle choices.
[/quote]

I worked when my kids were babies and toddlers and preschoolers and elementary school on up.
Now they are soon heading off to college. 
I know now that being a SAHM in the early years and going back to work when kids are in school is not brag worthy.
I tell all new moms to be the same thing - work now. Find someone loving and nurturing that is key. Parenting in the early years is caretaking.
When your kids are in school, then plan to stay home. 
You will want to be there.
That is when the real parenting happens.

Btw I worked in daycares for a long time in college and after. Group care is fine. And most teachers do like kids. And kids like hanging out with other kids. [/quote]

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