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My Slightly Chaotic Life

Balancing Life, Children and Chaos

Parenting

The Affordable Childcare Crisis

April 16, 2020 Comments : 8

Quality, affordable childcare is a topic that is on the minds of many working parents these days. Even more so with the forced closures of schools, businesses, restaurants and even some daycare centers nationwide. The child care system in the United States has always been a fragile system. Finding high quality care is not the only challenge that families face. They also face the struggle of finding affordable childcare in an already limited market.

While this post is sponsored, all my opinions are my own. You can find my full disclosures HERE.

Affordable childcare should be a right not a privilege. Here is how you can help make quality, affordable healthcare available for everyone. | Childcare | Working Mom |

Quality Childcare is Hard to Find

When my son was born over 8 years ago, the childcare system was severely lacking in the state of Maine. Not only was it difficult to find a daycare with openings, it was a struggle to find a daycare that I could afford on the salary that I was bringing home. Eventually I was able to find a center that I could afford and trusted. However, I was placed on a waitlist and had to rely on family to watch my son when I returned to work. The situation was even more dire when my daughter was born a little over two years ago.

Hearing from others how many quality daycare centers were full and had year long waitlists, I began my search before my daughter was even born. I placed my child on a waiting list 3 months before she even entered this world and still had to wait ’til she was 6 months old for her to have a spot at the daycare. Not only was this one of the only centers in my area that opened early enough to accommodate my work schedule as a nurse, but the cost of care was something we could afford.

Research has shown that children with access to early quality care and learning in the first few years of life is crucial to build a strong foundation that allows children to succeed. This made finding quality daycare that much more stressful.

Childcare in the times of COVID-19

With the spread of COVID-19 families are suddenly finding themselves without childcare. Many people who are considered essential workers are now struggling to find childcare in an already fragile economy and limited daycare facilities. Currently many daycare facilities are closed and payment from families is still expected. This is causing many families to pull their children indefinitely due to the financial strain.

Thankfully my daycare facility for my daughter is still open. However, many centers are not open and once this crisis passes we will be faced with a new childcare crisis. High quality, affordable childcare was limited before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now that the fragile childcare ecosystem is significantly strained, it will be far more challenging once this time passes. 

Affordable childcare should be a right not a privilege. Here is how you can help make quality, affordable healthcare available for everyone. | Childcare | Working Mom |

How you can help

Care for All Children has created a non-partisan educational campaign focused solely on childcare affordability in the United States. More than 20% of American families are going into debt paying for childcare. Not only are they focused on affordable childcare, but quality childcare as well. Since over two thirds of children under the age of 5 have two parents in the household in the workforce, children are spending more time in childcare settings.

This means that not only is affordability an issue, quality childcare is just as important.

So how can you help? Care for All Children is working hard to change the way presidential candidates think about affordable childcare in the United States. To find out more about Care for All Children, why every child deserves access to high quality childcare and to sign the petition urging presidential candidates to make affordable childcare a platform issue head to https://actv.at/7CP/

Other ways to get involved? Share this petition with your friends, families, co-workers and encourage them to sign as well. Share your story about how this issue has impacted your life. You can join the #CareForAllChildren campaign to share your story on social platforms. You can send a letter directly to the presidential candidate of your choice. As always make sure to get out and vote! Make sure to follow Care for All Children in order to stay updated.

You can follow them at:

Instagram: @CareForAllChildren

Twitter: @RaiseUpECE

Facebook: @CareForAllChildren

 

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Comments

  1. Kari says

    April 16, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    It’s so hard right now! Due to new headcount limitations we cannot attend daycare, but we still have to pay for it to hold our spot :(. So frustrating and my Lionel misses her friends!

    Reply
  2. Maya says

    April 16, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Thank you for the great info! I will have to forward this to my sister. She can surely use this!

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    April 17, 2020 at 8:42 am

    That sounds like an amazing campaign! I feel for working moms who struggle to make ends meet because of childcare costs.

    Reply
  4. Adriane says

    April 18, 2020 at 1:14 am

    I just heard of this organization. That’s crazy you have so many waitlists in your area. I’m not sure around here in AZ but I haven’t heard of it being a problem. Now, the cost,YES! That’s a problem. I need to check out and support Care For All Children. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Jen says

    April 18, 2020 at 8:18 am

    This is eye-opening for me. The fact that Americans are going into debt to pay for childcare is terrible. But increasing the availability of quality childcare presents a difficult, and separate problem. Your activism is an admirable way to make a real change!

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth says

    April 22, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my children but I realize how hard it can be to find affordable childcare. It becomes that much harder when you don’t live close to family who can step in and help. Thanks for doing what you can to solve this problem.

    Reply
  7. Melinda Cummings says

    April 22, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    When I lived in the US, I hated that I couldn’t send my kids to daycare or preschool.
    I am lucky in Quebec that it is subsidized, and we can get advanced tax credits to help pay for preschool and daycare. It is what is keeping me from moving to Ontario.

    Reply
  8. Christy says

    April 24, 2020 at 7:21 am

    Child care is a HUGE problem for many families. Thank you for sharing the information in this post!

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Danielle. I'm a mom, wife and ED nurse. I love sharing my honest take on being a mom, traveling with kids and lifestyle content.

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In Maine, my home state, that’s The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. 
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#momhumor #funnymom #momlifebelike #momlifeunfiltered #adulting #mommemes
Today is the day!! (5/23) Grab yourself an iced co Today is the day!! (5/23) Grab yourself an iced coffee from @dunkin and for every iced coffee sold at participating locations, $1 will be donated to the Dunkin’ @joyinchildhood Foundation. (#ad). 
The Dunkin’ Joy In Childhood Foundation brings joy to kids at local hospitals. 
For those in Maine, that’s The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. So grab an iced coffee today from Dunkin’ and spread some joy to local children! 

Excludes Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew. 
#dunkinmaine #dunkinpartner #bringjoy
.
.
.
.
.
.
#busymom #busymomlife #mainemom #mainelife #mainething #momlifestyle #coffeelove
I swear he secretly loves the chaos that I create. I swear he secretly loves the chaos that I create. We are complete opposites but it works. He loves calm and I apparently love mayhem.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#marriedlife #marriagehumor #husbandandwife #marriagememes #hubbyandwifey #newreel
There are many things that I like to do to keep my There are many things that I like to do to keep my cool during the crazy days with 3 kids, and one is to always be sipping on a Dunkin’ Iced Coffee. (#ad) You too can keep your cool with Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day, which is right around the corner on 5/23 and #bringjoy to kids at local hospitals!
On @dunkin Iced Coffee Day, $1 from every iced coffee sold at participating locations nationwide will be donated to the Dunkin’ @joyinchildhood Foundation. This will help bring joy to kids in local hospitals.
In Maine, my home state, that’s The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. 
So, make sure to mark your calendars for 5/23 to get your iced coffee and help bring joy to kids in the hospital in your community!
#dunkinmaine #dunkinpartner
.
.
.
.
.
.
#mommyandme #momstyle #momstylelife #busymom #busymomlife #maine #mainemom #mainelife
Chloe is definitely giving us a little bit of a ru Chloe is definitely giving us a little bit of a run for our money lately. Teething, leaps and learning new skills is making sleep pretty much non existent. Definitely walking around like a zombie lately. 

At least this cute plant stand is making me happy and adding some fun to my living space. Linked this one and others that you can get from @walmart for under $30 in my bio! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#livingroomdecor #plantlady #momsofig #walmartfinds #walmartdeals #cornerofmyhome #livingroomideas
It’s Mother’s Day and this day wouldn’t be c It’s Mother’s Day and this day wouldn’t be complete without trying to get a photo of myself and my kids. This was the best we got, uncoordinated outfits and all.
Thankful to be their mom today and everyday. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#mothersday2023 #momof3 #momstyle #motherhoodjourney #momswithcameras #motherhoodunfiltered
Saturdays are for soccer and running around like a Saturdays are for soccer and running around like a crazy person trying to entertain a bunch of kids. 
Honestly though leggings and a tank make up about 70% of my wardrobe. 

Everything is linked in my @shop.ltk, link in my bio. 
Happy Saturday friends! ☀️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#momstyle #momstylelife #affordablestyle #dailylooks #everydaystyle #mombod Mom style, Mom bod, Everyday look, easy style, soccer mom
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