Options For Working Parents and Childcare?

I realize this thread is probably pushing the policy, but I’m truly looking for help.

Wondering what other parents are doing with young children with schools and before/after programs shutting down?

We “might qualify” for a spot in a tier 2 program through the school. It will cost $1,700+ a month…..(if we even get a spot)

What other education/care options are out there if we don’t?

Please Please Please keep this a thread without the C word or the P word. Hank and Ben would appreciate it more than you may know.

This is a question from one hard working family to another, not to a troll or pot stirrer.

I know there is a short term program available (FFCRA) for one of us to stay home full-time for up to 12 weeks, but we’d rather keep working than accept a handout.

We have family that are already helping with the non-school hybrid days (and my wife takes Mondays off for it), but after Thanksgiving the boys go to full distance learning. We can’t (and won’t even ask) to put that responsibility fully on others.

Feel free to pm me as well.

Thanks guys

We are in the same boat we have been using the YMCA day camp program. It’s not perfect but it gave us the option to keep working. Not sure if you have a y in your area or not. We are waiting anxiously to see if the are allowed to keep this going with the shutdown of gyms again.

michael keehr wrote:

We are in the same boat we have been using the YMCA day camp program. It’s not perfect but it gave us the option to keep working. Not sure if you have a y in your area or not. We are waiting anxiously to see if the are allowed to keep this going with the shutdown of gyms again.

We have a YMCA about 10 miles away and we’ll look into it, thank you sir.

Do your children attend a public school?

We have found that many area districts still provide the school aged care beyond just Tier 1 situations (it’s just that they prioritize tier 1 workers due to the executive order). Without knowing the logistics of your situation specifically (age of kids, you and your spouse’s job, which district you live in)… I’d comb through the local districts website for what they are offering. Contact secretaries, community Ed coordinators, principals, and board members in that particular order if you cannot get answers.

If you really meet a dead end and are stuck, some families have leaned heavily on the text from the executive order shown below… specifically the vague part about “students who are struggling academically”. It may be helpful to share this with the principal (who should be familiar with it already). If your kids are setting the curve in their classes this may be a tough argument to make…but if they’ve really struggled with this or any transition in the past it may be worth it. Our district has let a few dozen kids come work in the building daily solely based on this language and parents who were aware it existed. The word “may” implies it is a suggestion from MDE versus a mandate, but it may be enough to help as it did for some families here.

From pg. 17 of the Safe Learning Plan [ADDED 10/30/20]: Prioritizing In-Person Instruction If your school district or charter school is moving some grades to distance learning because county or community data indicates a need to do so, the school district or charter school may continue to prioritize in-person instruction for students with disabilities, English learners, students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, and students who are struggling academically. This may be done without prior approval from MDE or MDH as long as the expected health and safety protocols set forth in guidance and Executive Order 20-82 continue to be met.

Have you talked to your employer about working remotely? Guessing that’s not an option?

I really feel for you and others in this situation B-man. I wish I could pass along a good idea to you. I saw someone mentioned YMCA, are there churches that offer any sort of help?

I feel you bud. Im infrastructure and classed as needed. But don’t have a partner. So im supposed to stay home. At the same time fall in a spot where I can not do work from home? And when I called today they said its very grey.

Grey isn’t a name of a paycheck provider either.

Healthcare workers so we are fortunate enough to get priority through the school programs. A lot of friends that aren’t “tier 1” have been getting spots at the school program, however. Hopefully something works out

Alor of college kids are going to be home for extended breaks until after new year. College kids need money and maybe into education programs. Just a thought. Good luck.

That’s what sucks, my wife is an RN. She is a tier one under the executive order…..but

I’m a tier two under the executive order under *water and waste water

Together we don’t qualify for priority one, but if we were apart she’d be able to keep the kids in school (and for “free” nonetheless, not $1,700+ a month).

Neither of us are able to work remotely, unless you consider me working out of town remotely

We’ll get through this, but it’s turning into a fuster cluck with no easy solution in sight.

At this point I might be best off asking my employer for a seasonal layoff and hope (pray) school is back to normal in the spring.

Or….I could take a new job at Subway or Taco Bell (food and agriculture) and we could both fall under tier one lol

Wife is an RN and I also am Tier 2 water/waste water. Right now we are fortunate enough that our rural in home daycare is willing to help with the learning part of our kindergartener and continue with our 2 year old. The daycare hours aren’t comparable to our hours so I have to leave early certain days for pick up. One thing that we are really concerned with is when the day care gets a positive case and shuts down. Not sure what we will do then….. we used to use grandma but that is out now, too. I feel so bad for the kids. They need to be in school. Not sure where you live but maybe try to find an in home service. Good luck, you’re not alone!

One of my wife’s co-workers is in a similar situation, and they formed an unofficial co-op with the neighbors. So each of 5 families is responsible for one day with all the kids. Or check some of the local daycare centers, some of them have expanded offerings for school aged kids. Feel for ya bud!

We are doing something similar to what BigWerm describes. There are a two families in our community who are out of work right now. So those of us who have to be at work have somewhere to take the kids. It works well. The folks who are taking the kids are making some much needed money during these crazy times. Especially since the husband of one of the families has been waiting on his unemployment checks since June now.
The Y is also another great option if available. I know the one by us is at capacity.

I really feel for people in your situation. It’s just another obstacle to deal with in pandemic times.

Have you looked at private or catholic schooling/daycare? It’s really not that expensive, and even if ya ain’t the jesus type it’s only temporary.

Our kids school closed for couple weeks bc of too many cases in the school but opening back up Nov.30.

My sister and her hubby sent their kids to their local private this year as well.

I really feel for all of you with your kids, I also feel for the kids. My good friend has five kids and the youngest (my Godson) is really struggling. I spoke with Don today and I can hear the stress in his voice. The co-op thing sounds great!
I truly wish you & your family luck B-man.

Right now me and my better half are lucky in that she is staying home while finishing college but her internship starts soon. Not sure what area you live in but st.croix county is working with us through his birth to 3 worker to try and figure all this out before she starts work. Maybe check with your county see if they can give any advice? Best of luck and well wishes heading your way and every other family going through this.

B-Man, I really feel for you and others in you situation. Like others have said above, look to the village to raise your children in these times. They are in your situation and you can work together at no cost. The education that they will receive during this time is a sham and joke anyway so it’s just childcare that matters. Neighbors and friends I pray are the answer for you.

During these times I really hope people learn to prioritize their children and investigate private schooling. Even if you think you can’t afford it, I hope people learn that they can’t afford not too.

Even my wife who can work at home, can’t watch a four year old and “work at home.” And I think that puts her job somewhat in jeopardy. The guidance is different down here but if I try to stay home, I think work would have a stroke. At $1700 a month, I would be asking for family leave.

I just went and got tested again because it seemed like I had a cold. One other person at work got it and a couple exposed in the last week. The frequency is picking up down here.

Best of lucky by the way. No one seems happy right now. The only happy people have no tv and no internet.