Whether your are a working parent or a stay-at-home parent, I just have to say… RESPECT. There is no easy option. Childcare is expensive, whether you are paying in money or time. Working part-time, while taking care of my kid has given me insight into both worlds.
Stay-At-Home Parents
First off, I have something I need to rant about. It really bothers me when people talk about families with a stay-at-home-parent as rich and privileged. That is not always the case. Childcare is ridiculously expensive and not everyone’s job pays well! As a preschool teacher, parents paid more for their child’s tuition each month than I was paid for working full-time.
I love being able to spend time with my son while he’s still little. If you’re not a particularly high earner, the idea of earning just enough to then pay someone else to take care of your child can be frustrating.
Working parents feel like they can’t afford to stay home and SAHP feel like they can’t afford to work. Who’s right? Everyone. We can’t afford shit, guys. It’s the sad truth of modern parenting.
Adorable animal GIFs aside, these are difficult decisions. Right now, I work three days a week and bring my son with me. This has been awesome, but what happens if we decide to have another child or it’s time for our son to start preschool? I wish I knew.
Working Parents
If you do earn a nice living, chances are, you work long hours at the office only to come home and care for your children. Many parents work ten-hour days, come home, feed their kids, bathe them, read to them, and tuck them in bed. Then they turn on their computers to get a couple more hours of work done. Of course parents of young children are stressed out! The expectations are out of control.
If you work full-time and can afford it, the big preschool/daycare centers are organized and have the resources for managing large groups of children. Your child will get plenty of opportunities to socialize and prepare for elementary school. The downside to some larger programs often include high turnover of staff and a constant flow of germs into your family. Be prepared to be asked to leave work to come pick up your sick child often.
If you’re looking to save money on preschool, there are ways. Part-time, co-op, faith-based, in-home, and family care are great options, but even those aren’t cheap.
Affordable Childcare Options:
Part-Time & Co-Op
This route offers socialization and school preparedness while saving some major money. Unfortunately, three hours a day or two days a week of childcare is often not enough for working parents.
Faith-Based
If your are already involved in a church, this is a great way to go. You can save a couple hundred bucks a month!
In-Home
Smaller, in-home programs can offer a close community of families, as well as experienced and loving caregivers. There is less school-like structure, but these programs can offer lots of play-based learning and close friendships.
Family Care
If you have a retired parent that lives close, this can be a life saver. You get to save a large amount of money every month and your child gets a close relationship with their grandparent(s). Remember that young children are high-energy and high-needs. It is important to consider your aging parent’s health and well-being when considering this option.
It will work out.
The future is uncertain. Even considering ways to save, I’m not sure how we’re going to afford preschool in the coming years. We’d also like to have one more child in the future. Factoring in medical expenses and maternity leave is discouraging. I love this country, but we can do so much more to help families.
On a final note, if anyone out there is one of those, “don’t have kids if you can’t afford them” types, please leave this site immediately. I shudder to think of the quality of person our society would produce if only the rich could have families.
Good luck to all the mamas and papas out there! You’re doing a wonderful job, despite your crippling responsibilities.