Do parents really! can not afford our fees?

[playfelt]

You bring up a good example Sarah. I understand that you are using any extra money you earn to pay down your debt and that is great. But why should your daycare provider or hair dresser or bus company take a hit in their pocket book so they dont' have enough money just so you can pay down your debt. If your caregiver doesn't earn her required wages her monthly expenses won't be paid either.

Yes there are newly divorced, changes in custody, lost company shares/pension when a business closes, and yes that can cause it to be very tight to make ends meet. That is what subsidy is for but it can be hard to get in some cities depending on how long to be processed, spaces available etc. With three children you might find it is cheaper to have someone coming into your home or making use of more than one person where one works mornings and one afternoons. While we would all agree it is not an ideal daycare arrangement there will always be a need for this type of care for families that are facing less than ideal income restraints.

I think too there will always be this perception that our husbands work to support the family and that we are home anyways earning a bit of pocket money by taking in other people's children - back in the 40's and 50's that might have been true but not in my lifetime. Parents need to realize that just as they go to the office everyday we go to our work in our basement every day and we need our paycheck just as much if not more in some cases since it is so small.