A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I am 23 years old, I'll be 24 in July. I have two children a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. I am very unhappy with my life. I'm always stressed.I live in low income, my sons biological father is dead, no social security for him and my daughter's father isn't fairing much better than I am. He currently lives in a motel, but after his month is up he will be homeless. He can't live with me.I can't seem to keep a job more than six months, most of it having to do with babysitters falling through, me having to call in and missing work too often. I don't know what to do. I have no problem getting a job and making my own money. My only major problem is getting adequate, reliable and affordable daycare. Even with assistance I was paying almost 900 dollars a month for childcare.I am so lost and hopeless, i feel so alone. I don't know what to do anymore. Can someone please help me find a solution?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (28 March 2013): Yes childcare is expensive, but what you are paying is actually fairly cheap for two children if you take an average of going rates in the US. Unfortunately you are stuck in having to put your children in daycare settings that accept childcare assistance and unfortunately, you get what you pay for with such low rates.Might you consider going to college and working towards a degree that will land you a job that will pay you more money? You can get tons of financial assistance for tution and childcare, applying for scholarships,grants etc. And maybe you could advertise to babysit another child on the weekends or something in your home to earn some extra cash on the side. Is there something you are good at making that you could sell like baked goods or something like that? Advertise yourself on facebook to everyone you know and maybe make some extra money that way?Watch what you are spending...do you buy a lot of convenience foods? Do your entertainment costs blow a lot of your extra cash? Just thinking of ways to save some money. You want it bad enough, you can do it. You cut back on what you really don't need and work your butt off. Maybe you can go work at a daycare center and be allowed to have your own kids in care at a much lower rate (pay will suck though). I've known Mom's who have done this and it's worked out pretty well using it as a stepping stone to better jobs). Can you find a job in a company that has on-sight childcare for their employees?If you really want good reliable childcare, you are going to have to pay more money. That's the truth. Good reputable daycare providers hold high standards, have great programs for the children and have them on a good routined schedule with lots of learning and active play. When you have to put your kids in low income centers or family daycare's, there are often major turnover issues and lack of quality because their income is so low and they are overwhelmed with so many children and not much experience or real interest because it's just a job for them, but at least they are covered for reliability in having a caregiver there. Centers put their money into the building and equipment, not the people who are actually caring for the children. Private state licensed family daycare providers are often a better choice for quality because they are monitored and have to follow state regulations and standards, but some can prove unreliable if they have a track record of closing a lot. You find one you like, ask for current and past references and call them. Ask them how often they close and things like that. Good luck.
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reader, anonymous, writes (27 March 2013): I don't know America all that well in specifics but I know there are churches and congregations that offer free childcare to struggling single mothers, there are also social charities that you can contact for help in that kind of thing. You should also look into state funded childcare assistance and go to your local battered women's shelter as they know all the ways of setting up a woman on her own with kids, to work and stuff so they'll have a lot of tools to be able to help you.
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