Childcare

[Lacuna]

For those working or student parents, what kind of childcare do you use?

I am trying to escape a very bad marriage and am really stuck. Daycare here would cost a total of about $960 per month for my two children (I will only be making about $750 per month). I can not qualify for childcare assistance vouchers until I move out, but can not afford to move out for 1-2 more months. My new job is part-time and 45 minutes away. But, because I can not afford daycare and their father can not watch them every day, I am having to drive them an hour away to my grandparents house and then another hour from there to work. Then, get off work, drive to pick them up and then back home, another two hours. Friday I left home at 6am and didn't make it back here until 8pm! It is exhausting, but I do not know what else to do. I do not have anyone here who could keep them free. I do not know what to do...

So, who keeps your kids while you are gone?

[Ravyn Sylverwyng]

Try looking in the newspaper for people that will babysit. Sometimes they can be cheaper than if you were to put them in daycare. There are even some that are state accredited. And, not to mention that most of the time if you explain to these what your position is, they will try to work with it. It is just a suggestion.

I'm in the same situation as you are, my problem is that I can't find a job. I have a sister that lives nearby that has agreed to help with my children.

[~~Cypher~~]

Family members are always the best... they will watch the children for free or no cost. ;) so dont be afraid to ring up and aunt or a cousin or a mother if need be... someone that is closer to you than your grandparents.

[Valkie]

Another thing that you may want to look into is child care assistance.

They go by different income regulations. We have one in this state that I was using for a couple of years and I was paying around 30$/wk for full daycare with transportation included.

[Lacuna]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. My problem is that all of my family lives in the same area as my grandparents and most of them work during the day. My grandma says she will watch them occasionally, so I'm just stuck when she can't.

About childcare assistance, I will qualify for it when I move out of my husbands house, but until then he makes over the income limit, but will not pay for daycare...

[PantherSpirit]

I found myself in that same predicament a couple of months ago. I was completely stuck between a rock and a hardplace. I wanted so badly to go back to school. However, I barely made enough working from home to support my son and myself. Basically, it paid the bills, but that was about it. Then a friend of mine suggested a babysitter. I'd never really thought about it..well, that's a lie, i HAD thought about it, but I kept picturing some pimple-faced teenager with braces yacking on the phone while my son tore up my house..lol. My friend gave me the name and number of a SAHW (stay at home wife) who babysat so she could make her own money. I knew that if my friend trusted her, then I could too. It was the BEST decision for my son. He loves her and she's really great with him so it's a win/win situation! Good luck!

[Lacuna]

I found myself in that same predicament a couple of months ago. I was completely stuck between a rock and a hardplace. I wanted so badly to go back to school. However, I barely made enough working from home to support my son and myself. Basically, it paid the bills, but that was about it. Then a friend of mine suggested a babysitter. I'd never really thought about it..well, that's a lie, i HAD thought about it, but I kept picturing some pimple-faced teenager with braces yacking on the phone while my son tore up my house..lol. My friend gave me the name and number of a SAHW (stay at home wife) who babysat so she could make her own money. I knew that if my friend trusted her, then I could too. It was the BEST decision for my son. He loves her and she's really great with him so it's a win/win situation! Good luck!

PantherSpirit, I know it might be different in our areas, but do you mind if I ask how much the mother charges for babysitting? This is something I've been considering. I was thinking of putting an ad in the paper to see if I could find someone...

[PantherSpirit]

She charges 50 per child a week. Which may sound like a lot..but it's really not considering that she makes the lunches and daycare will usually run you about 110 (or more) per week per child. PLUS, there's only 2 other children that she watches and they're around my son's age so he has friends to play with AND it's not like the 7:1 ratio (kids to adults) like at daycares. Good luck to you! Keep positive!!