Child care

[FacesinDisguise]

I found out dh has been coming home late because he been drinking at the bar not working late like he claimed. I am done but really scared how I am going to hack this on my own. I have a degree but I been out of work a while and won't make much in my field. I can live cheaply and rent an apartment but how will I afford childcare. I have 2 kids and 1 on the way. Can I get subsidized childcare or share someone? Is there anyway to get affordable childcare for 3 kids and still have money to live.

[kavamamakava]

Originally Posted by FacesinDisguise

I found out dh has been coming home late because he been drinking at the bar not working late like he claimed. I am done but really scared how I am going to hack this on my own. I have a degree but I been out of work a while and won't make much in my field. I can live cheaply and rent an apartment but how will I afford childcare. I have 2 kids and 1 on the way. Can I get subsidized childcare or share someone? Is there anyway to get affordable childcare for 3 kids and still have money to live.

Where do you live? In my state we have subsidized childcare but I don't know if it's the same everywhere. It's prorated so if you make less than 1800 a month it's $15/mo and then goes up. The max you have to pay is $450 before you no longer qualify.

My children started daycare at ages 5,4,1. I started with a Montessori/day care and the kids did so well there. The director of the school is from India and I was raised in India and in temples so the children really loved that she knew what our family was all about. She even did daily meditation right before naptime to get them calm.

But once my youngest was potty trained I switched them to a childcare place that was closer to home and fed into the school they would attend in K.

The 1 yr old just loooved it. It took about 2 weeks of crying at drop off though I nursed her at 4 am, before daycare, when I picked her up, when we got home, after dinner, at her bedtime, and at my bedtime. She didn't get bottles at daycare.
The 4 yr old made friends that she still has now and she's almost 8.
The 5 yr old was another issue as he is special needs and I've been through about 6 different daycare places in the past 4 years and still haven't found one. I had to quit working and am now in school full time so I can be doing something while he's in school and be home with him when he is not. It's difficult but manageable. I will be starting grad school in the fall.

[MariesMama]

In my state, childcare is split along the same lines as medical costs. It comes out of ex's check right along with the child support. How much he makes does not matter - ie, my ex pays me $495 a month in support/child care when he is only bringing home $1300 (on paper). His support amount is $200 but he has to pay 50% of all childcare no matter what.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Yup, we get subsidized childcare here too. Plus there are a few places that do not charge above subsidy. They can be hard to find, but if you start calling around to get on lists, you can ask if any of the places have a similar program. I currently have my on at a YMCA daycare and they offer scholarships to cover the difference between what they charge and what subsidy pays. I end up paying nothing for childcare, which is a dream.

What is your degree in? I too had been out of work for a couple of years, but I had been watching a child in my home for about a year when I went back to work. I ended up getting a job at the Y that my son now attends. It is so great to have the same schedule that he is on, and to be so close to him (I work in a different room, but we are in the same building). Can you take children into your home, or can you apply at a chidlcare center? You might get a decent discount, and then if you apply for subsidy, that will help as well. The Y that I work at gives a 75% tuition discount to employees.

You can absolutely do this.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

.