Hellobee Boards Topic: Would you change your child care/work situation?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Would you change your child care/work situation? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:57:17 +0000 babypugs on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622592 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:14:00 +0000 babypugs 2622592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'd keep working and feel suddenly very rich! Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622553 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 07:36:09 +0000 Anagram 2622553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Truth Bombs: I see what you are saying, but I don't think that's likely to become a common scenario, just because I don't think most low or even mid-income families would be able to front the cash. The tuition of each daycare/preschool won't change. If family A is making 50k a year and family B is making 500k a year, then yes, Family A will cap out at 5k a year and family B would cap out at 50k a year. That's a huge difference. So let's say there's a Montessori that costs 25k a year. Each family still has to pay the 25k tuition; tuition doesn't change at all depending on income. It isn't likely that the 50K family will be able to front that tuition payment every quarter. I would think there would be very few families in that income range that could front that kind of payment when after taxes, their monthly paycheck might be 3.5k and they have healthcare, and housing, and bills, and cars to pay. Even if they know they will get some of it back later through a tax rebate. But it certainty levels the playing field a bit. With this new plan, a fast food worker making minimum wage could potentially afford to continue working and still have a child. I see this decreasing costs of public assistance in the future, as right now, most low earners choose to stop working and start getting assistance until their children are school age. avivoca on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622538 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 05:28:03 +0000 avivoca 2622538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It would certainly make my financial life easier. Two in daycare is going to be roughly half of my take-home pay every month. I don't know that we would have a third child, and my husband doesn't want one, but it would make the decision easier knowing that no matter what, it wouldn't cost more than I am paying now. looch on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622537 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 05:27:52 +0000 looch 2622537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ What about a stipend, to spend how you want? It wouldn't cover the full cost of care, but it could offset some. When we lived abroad, we got a child stipend per month. It was $450 regardless of income and we could spend it how we wanted. The amount increases with every child. It works because society as a whole has a vested interest in bringing up the next generation, in order for anything to work in the US, we need a mindset change. Pumpkin Pie on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622530 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 03:08:09 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2622530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Childcare expenses for us are extremely high. If that cost were less of a factor, we'd feel less pressure to have a certain income, I'd work part time until my kids were old enough to take care of themselves sufficiently. Life would be more healthy and sane. I hate that I have to spend all weekend preparing meals for the next week/doing all the chores, etc. It goes by so fast, and I feel like we don't have enough actual time to just enjoy each other's company. lamariniere on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622518 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:34:06 +0000 lamariniere 2622518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We were already in the situation where our childcare costs were very low (comparatively). This did not change our job decisions or desire for more kids. We also wanted them at daycare and weren't interested in a nanny or in home care. Here most private daycares cost about the same and are subsidized by the city government so they are affordable to nearly everyone, I only know of one "elite" daycare with 5 figure tuition. yellowbird on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622515 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:11:16 +0000 yellowbird 2622515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It wouldn't really matter at the moment because I'm in a residency program but it would make having a third child way easier! I'd probably still work the same amount even when I am done with residency Truth Bombs on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622489 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 22:02:53 +0000 Truth Bombs 2622489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: I'm saying its one thing for a lower income household to pay less money for the same care, but if we just give a cap of 10% with no restrictions, a lower income family could get higher value care (i.e. a nanny) for less money than a higher income earning family is paying for lower value care (i.e. a daycare center). Of course the higher income family has access to the higher value care, but they have to consider the increased cost vs additional retirement savings, college savings, etc, where as the lower income family doesn't have to consider the increased cost. They'll max out at $10k (10% of 100k) not matter what value of fair they choose. To use a simpler example it's like saying a rich person should pay more for McDonald's than a poor person should pay for Ruth's Chris, and I'm not ok board with that. caterw on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622448 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:13:33 +0000 caterw 2622448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would probably go back to work part time. I love being a SAHM but I would love to keep something going on my resume for when I eventually do want to go back to work full time. I probably won't work at all until DD2 is in kindergarden so we will only have to pay for aftercare- that's 8 years out of the workforce for me! Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622432 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:51:43 +0000 Anagram 2622432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @wheres_c: we bit the bullet and did both, but we cut LO1 down to 3 days a week at daycare all of last year. This year, she just started "full time" preschool, but it's only 8:30-2:30, so our nanny still has to drop her and pick her up. But it's a good mix, if you can swing it financially for a while. Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622431 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:49:21 +0000 Anagram 2622431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Pen: well, I guess the area sets the market rate, but if they are being paid legally they at least have to make minimum wage in their area. In our area, nannies already make more than minimum wage, but I'd imagine that's not the case everywhere. wheres_c on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622429 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:47:59 +0000 wheres_c 2622429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Pen: yeah, I get a 18 week maternity leave. I work from home - I'm wondering if I can get away with no childcare for the little one for a few months and just using a friend sitter as needed. Then daycare @6mo. We will see! Mrs. Pen on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622426 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:46:26 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2622426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @wheres_c: I'm in a similar boat! I don't want to have to send a 12 week old to daycare. I'm seriously considering a nanny for the summer, and post-poning putting the baby in daycare until fall when DS starts kindergarten. Mrs. Pen on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622423 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:45:10 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2622423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: what would be the proposal for ensuring child care workers/nannies are paid fairly? Right now they make so little and I worry they would be unfairly compensated wheres_c on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622420 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:44:18 +0000 wheres_c 2622420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If money weren't an issue I'd get a live in Au Pair for the upcoming LO and *still* send LO to preschool. That's the biggest suckage of the decision I have to make during maternity leave - do I send a tiny little baby to daycare? (I know people do, but I hate the thought of it) or do I pull my 4 year old out of the environment he likes so we can have a nanny watch both. I wish we could have both options!! Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622415 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:41:36 +0000 Anagram 2622415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Just mulling ideas here....this could revolutionize the nanny industry, too. Right now, so many nannies are paid under the table. There's no real incentive for either the nanny or the families to pay over the table--there was a survey done in my town and 88% of responders said they pay their nanny under the table and most nannies here prefer it that way--they won't go legal even if given the chance. But having a cap would incentivize families to pay legally and pay for their employee's worker's comp, social security, unemployment, etc. Again, this would be a positive change for society as a whole. I would imagine there are many workers that work illegally so they can avoid taxes and potentially still receive government assistance, so incentivizing legal childcare work would benefit the government if it means paying less in government assistance. Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622409 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:38:11 +0000 Anagram 2622409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Truth Bombs: I don't think I entirely follow your example. In your example, either family would have access to whatever type of education they wanted to pay for, knowing that they will have a tax deduction to make it equal 10%. So the lower earning family won't have access to "better" education than the higher earning family, just equal education...assuming they all had the means and desire to pay for the daycare up front. It might mean that daycare standards and expectations are higher all around though, as people would have the means to put their children in better centers, it would kind of create a market for better centers and maybe some of the less-desired centers/unlicensed centers would be forced to get licensed and improve. Mrs. Pen on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622407 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:37:48 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2622407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'd work 3-4 days a week. I'd probably get a nanny, but still have my son in preschool part time. I'm pregnant with my second. So not sure if I'd have more at this point or not. Anagram on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622398 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:28:26 +0000 Anagram 2622398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @bluestriped bee: In our town, having a nanny for 2 kids is significantly cheaper than sending two kids to full time daycare. It's $4,000-4500 for two kids in full time daycare, and about $3500/month for a nanny (obviously, there is a range based on experience). So, in some areas of the country, having any kind of childcare is a luxury, I guess. But the whole point to me is that people shouldn't have to make the choice between being a teacher making 50k a year in an expensive area and being a parent--and in some higher COL areas, that choice is very real; you can't have both unless you marry "up" so to speak. But it kind of sucks to think 2 teachers married to each other or a teacher and a daycare worker, or a teacher and a truck driver have to choose between having children or leaving the workforce. I personally think our whole economy benefits when people stay in the work force over the long term (not talking about taking off a year or three when having kids). There's more economic stability in the case of death or divorce, more workers willing to work low, mid, and high wage jobs. There's a lot to consider. AnnabelleG on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622154 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:30:03 +0000 AnnabelleG 2622154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This kind of answering the question and kind of not... I work 2 long days with paperwork time at home on my off-days. If childcare costs and my long commute weren't a factor, I would have my child in "school" (daycare) 3 shorter days (9-3 instead of 8:30-4:30/5). Then I could have protected time to finish my paperwork instead of having to squeeze it in at naps and after bedtime. Andrea on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622148 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:22:19 +0000 Andrea 2622148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No change. We're under the 10% with the 2 kids in school and I like being a SAHM. youboots on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622124 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:45:27 +0000 youboots 2622124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nothing would change. I don't SAH because daycare is expensive. Mama Bird on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622122 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:42:54 +0000 Mama Bird 2622122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It wouldn't change. I'd still "have" to work even if we were paying less. I'm not working because day care is cheap and this is what I want. I'm working because my husband hates his job and I want to give him the opportunity to quit if he's had enough. Also because my family (and worse, DH) will despise me if I quit. And I also like my job, but I'd rather be with the kids now and go back to work in a few years. yoursilverlining on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622120 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:39:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 2622120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It wouldn't change my work/care situation, but having daycare capped at 10% of our income would have a big impact on my financial health as a whole. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622119 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:38:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2622119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wish childcare costs 0-5 yrs was the only factor in whether I worked or how many kids we plan to have. A 10% cap would be great when I think about baby #2 or #3, but there's a bunch of other expenses that increase with multiple kids once they are school age. Granted these expenses are often voluntary- private school, braces, playing sports etc. I don't think even with saving funds on the front end we would save enough to make three kids a reality. Neither or our work statuses would change since working now makes our retirement sweeter. yerpie110 on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622108 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:25:18 +0000 yerpie110 2622108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My work and childcare wouldn't change - love being a part time wohm mom and having a nanny for the baby, while the oldest is in preschool. What would change is our decision on have a third baby. We are 98% sure we are done with bio babies, and a large factor in that decision is finances. With a cap, we would be much more to it. BSB on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622107 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:24:26 +0000 BSB 2622107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Truth Bombs: I would assume there would be an approved centers, too. I was thinking along the same lines. I don't know what the difference in cost would be between daycare (facility or in home), nanny, nanny-share, au pair, Montessori and etc. I would assume a nanny would be significantly more expensive than a daycare. Where will government find this money to pay for rest of it? I know it won't be unlimited. The program will have a cap. As a democrat/liberal, I am willing to let lower class have the funds before I do (I'm middle class). (I think they need the assistance more than I do.) I would hope I can get some assistance. But I think there will be approved facilities. I might get bashed for this comment, but I think having a nanny is a bit of a luxury over using a day care. (Full disclosure, I have used a bunch of nannies in the past.) That individualized attention is what you are paying extra for. I don't think the program (government) will have the funds to pay for nanny care for everyone. mamabolt on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622105 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:23:00 +0000 mamabolt 2622105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We'd consider a third and I'd cut back hours to 75%. snowjewelz on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622102 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:18:48 +0000 snowjewelz 2622102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My work situation probably wouldn't change, as my income is very much needed regardless of childcare, but of course it would help so much if childcare is less costly! Childcare choices won't change; but maybe we would've given DD more hours now instead of waiting till the last possible second to save money. I don't think this will affect how many kids we choose to have. catlady on "Would you change your child care/work situation?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-change-your-child-carework-situation#post-2622091 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:04:58 +0000 catlady 2622091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wouldn't change our situation. I think we'd keep our LO (and future LO) in full-time Montessori daycare and both continue working full-time. The biggest difference would be that we'd have more money to be able to put towards a new house. Right now, we will probably have to wait until at least one LO is out of daycare (or close) before we can move because we can't afford 2 in daycare and a bigger mortgage all at once.