Families struggle to afford day care [Lack of free government money in NC]

Greensboro Fishwrap ^

[AppyPappy]

Families struggle to afford day care

2-13-03

By SCOTT MICHELS, Staff Writer News & Record

SUMMERFIELD - Shannon Brown ran out of options last week after the woman who takes care of her two young children unexpectedly announced she was quitting.

The average weekly cost of child care at private day care centers in Rockingham County is more than $80 per child.

"And there's no way we can afford that," said Brown, 24.

She and her husband qualify for a child care subsidy from the county Department of Social Services. But for the first time in seven years, there is a waiting list for aid in Rockingham County -- nearly 400 children are ahead of hers -- and there's no telling when, or if, she or the other families will get any money.

A week ago, Brown's boss at a check-cashing service in Greensboro told her to come in the next day or lose her job, she said. With no one to take care of her children, who are 2 years old and 8 months old, she quit, she said.

[AppyPappy]

"We need someone to take care of us."

You have to ask: Why didn't she pay for day care with the money she made at the check cashing service?

[p. henry]

When I was 3, my parents and their friends were dirt poor. Their solution: a cooperative nursery school. It could work again.

[KantianBurke]

"She and her husband"

Two parent family? Easy solution. Dad works from 9-5. Then he comes home. Family dinner. Mom then works from 6 till midnight. No govt handout needed.

[bulldogs]

Tough Crap. Don't have Kids.

[AppyPappy]

You'll note they didn't mention dad's employment situation. I suspect they were gunning for free government money to pay for daycare and were going to absolutely refuse to pay for it themselves.

I guess it's back to the couch to smoke weed and watch Oprah for mom. Social Services will have these kids in a few months.

[IYAS9YAS]

Yep, good friends, relatives, church. They all worked when I was young as well. However, when more than x-number of children are involved, unfortunately, so is the goobermint.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Here is another solution. Don't have kids if you can't afford to care for them.

Also, I would bet that they have NOT cut back on the luxuries. I bet that they both have cell phones, cable TV, eat out regularly, etc.

She could also quit her regular job and keep former co-workers children, allowing her to stay at home and bring in more income tax free.

[IYAS9YAS]

I know many people who do this. Where I used to work, we had two shifts, many families worked there. Husband worked one and the wife worked the other, kid was handed off at the shift change.

[SouthernFreebird]

Because in NC we work for 5,6 and 7 dollars an hour......take 160.oo out of your small paycheck after taxes and try to provide rent... utilities... food...diapers ect..

I sure thought I some of you on another thread condemning the parent of small kids working and paying childcare. They just can't win with some of you....

[AppyPappy]

nearly 400 children are ahead of hers

Q: Why don't the 400 get together and pay each other to keep the kids? A: Because they want the free handout.

[DLfromthedesert]

I know many couples who work in my hospital who do this, not to save money, but so one parent can ALWAYS be with their children.

[AppyPappy]

Because in NC we work for 5,6 and 7 dollars an hour

Bull. We pulled in 6 figures when I lived in NC. It's not some backwater. If mom and dad both pulled in $8 an hour, that would be $32K a year. You can get child care with that kind of jack.

I waited until I could afford kids to have them.

[Michael Barnes]

Eighty a week???!! Hell, they got off lucky. When my kid was in daycare -when wife and I lived down that way), it was 200 bucks a week.

[Michael Barnes]

Foregot to mention as well, daycare center's down NC way LOVE to do the 'ol sliding scale thing.

[monocle]

Does anyone wonder why the Democratic vote is as high as it is?

Welcome to the "gimme society".

[AppyPappy]

We paid $96 and $102 a week for our kids. You get a discount for the 2nd kid. And it was a very nice day care.

[MEGoody]

I wish these families would tally up the cost of putting their kids in child care, et al and see if it really is financially worthwhile for the mom to work. It would be nice if there was more affordable day care, but there generally isn't.

[acs]

"I bet that they both have cell phones, cable TV, eat out regularly, etc. "

She probably drives and SUV too.

[AppyPappy]

If you go down east, you get a discount if they are old to enough to crop tobacco.

[WriteOn]

This is another situation admitting of a faith-based solution. Way too many government functions belong in the domain of the church.