My son's wilderness camp was cancelled and I haven't looked for a replacement. We were doing another camp too, with horseback riding, but that converted into private lessons, which he is doing next week.

DH should be working from home for at least the rest of this year and we both will be taking parental leave, so we shaved quite a bit off of my 3 year old's daycare hours. However, we have grandparents who can help out too with pick ups.

So yes, it's nice to save a little money that way. The future is uncertain right now.

We used to need full-day camps, but now an outdoor sporty 9-12 camp is perfect. The kids get enough physical activity but without the torture of being outsides in the afternoon heat. Halfday camps w/out aftercare are still much cheaper. When they get home, they eat lunch (no need to pack lunches) and then have screen time.

The cost savings are nice, but of course I'd rather not have COVID at all. As my youngest is starting 3rd grade in fall and we live close to school, I wasn't planning to send him to aftercare anyway. But it will be less stressful to be home when he gets back from school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the cost savings, but I think that's a terrible reason to keep your kids home. We'll be sending my younger child back to daycare in August if we feel it's safe. She needs the social interaction.

Really? Aren't finances a huge factor in just about everything most of America does (or doesn't do)?

Sure, but it's pretty awful if your wallet is more important to you than your childs mental health.

Yup--this is a false dichotomy, and my kid has a sibling. They're spending more time together than ever.

Do SAHMs harm their children's mental health? Is spending gobs of money on childcare the only way your children socialize? Be more creative!

WhT about MY mental health and my ability to get work done? Oh you’ve never had a job you don’t understand.

Of course! I absolutely understand that childcare is needed particularly for people with inflexible jobs. Mine happens to be rather flexible. Calm down.

Well we were able to put on a roof using some of this savings. So for this year - we are going with a non-leaky roof.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the cost savings, but I think that's a terrible reason to keep your kids home. We'll be sending my younger child back to daycare in August if we feel it's safe. She needs the social interaction.

Really? Aren't finances a huge factor in just about everything most of America does (or doesn't do)?

Sure, but it's pretty awful if your wallet is more important to you than your childs mental health.

Yup--this is a false dichotomy, and my kid has a sibling. They're spending more time together than ever.

Do SAHMs harm their children's mental health? Is spending gobs of money on childcare the only way your children socialize? Be more creative!

WhT about MY mental health and my ability to get work done? Oh you’ve never had a job you don’t understand.