Jenni T. - Parent
[Name changed at request of participant]
Please share your childcare story.
“Childcare was always a struggle especially when I became a single mother to two kids who were ages 1 and 5 at the time. Fridays would come and I'd be short the money owed to both daycares. I'd walk into both places, to get the kids, with nothing but guilt and shame because I knew I'd have to tell the director of the programs YET AGAIN that payment would either be short or late. This went on for years. Most days I tried to avoid the directors just so I didn't have to explain yet again why I couldn't pay my bill in full. I had diapers to buy, food, rent to pay, utilities... Basically I was never able to get ahead. I worked 10 hour days just to keep my head above water and I was still drowning in expenses. Eventually it would all add up and my voucher would be threatened. So, I'd pick a bill to hold off on so I could catch up on daycare. What a vicious cycle it was. Eventually, 3 weeks before my son was to graduate from the program before kindergarten, I lost my voucher. I cried the whole way home after the director of my son's daycare had to break the news in her office that Friday afternoon. I just couldn't keep up. I was ashamed. I lost child care for both kids and that also meant I had no way of paying for before/after school when the school year started. I had to reach out to family and beg for help in order to find sitters for the rest of summer before school started. I had worked out a deal with the school for after school care but it was even further out of my price range. Due to not being able to afford the entire afternoon care, I had to cut back on hours at work and it forced me further into debt. Life can be cruel sometimes. I wasn't receiving any support from the other parent, nor was I eligible for any other assistance. Yet, I was forced to do it all by myself and there was no other option. I remember before I lost the voucher, trying to get my payments lowered and being told no. All I was trying to do was go to work to support my family, yet- it was such a struggle to pay for childcare. Then, ultimately, it was taken and I struggled pretty bad after that. I wasn't able to get another voucher and I had to start using credit cards to pay some bills so I could afford the few hours of the after school program for both my kids. I had some help from family throughout the years which made a big difference but I wish I was able to enjoy my kids being little more, instead of being so stressed about bills all the time. I wish this program would hear the parents concerns and cries for help. I wish the payments would be more affordable for working, single mothers especially those who don't qualify for any other assistance or are forced to do it alone, without help from an absent parent.”
What would affordable, high-quality early education and child care mean for your family? What would be different if you had access to such a program?
“It would mean my 12 year-old daughter wouldn't have to get my 7 year old son off the bus everyday. It would mean my children could go to an after school program where they'd get assistance with homework and get to interact with other students instead of being home for a few hours alone until I get home from work.”