I don't want to start a debate over SAHM vs. WM either but I have to say as a in-home childcare provider I am shocked at how some WM approach this issue. I do this to allow me to be home and homeschool my daughter and I enjoy having the other children here. I charge about $3.50 an hour per kid. I rarely charge for overtime, unless it is hours past the arranged pick up time. I don't charge for vacation or sick days missed, so if they don't bring their kids they aren't charged. I am told (and deep down I know) I am very over-accomodating to these parent and get taken advantage of. But I hear working moms complain all the time.
Your personal choice is to have children and still work. You want your children cared for in what I assume would be a loving manner and you are unhappy paying the person providing the care as much as you pay the person making your fries at McDonalds or picking up your trash? If fairly paying the person in charge of your childs physical and mental well being is a problem than I think your priorities are a little off. As I said I do this because it brings income in while I homeschool, allows my daughter to have close relationships with other children-they are almost like siblings, and most of all I enjoy it. I don't think I would get the same feeling working another job.
Childcare providers are underpaid, have lousy benefits if they are lucky enough to get them and have a tough job. I can't tell you how many working moms tell me I am glad I go to work everyday, I couldn't do what you do. You love your kids, you know caring for children is a difficult job yet you complain about paying childcare? How many childcare workers do you see driving BMW's? It's not like childcare workers are scamming you. Think about the costs of things industries know we want or need and will pay whatever price for these things, ie; mattresses or flights at peak vacation times. These industries know that the need is great and can charge ridiculous prices for their product and people will pay. In today's society childcare is a tremendous need of many families yet it is an outrage that it should cost the same as your fast food service?
If you can't afford it as another poster said evaluate your situation and maybe your working situation needs to change.
One more question to working moms that think childcare should be rock bottom pricing, what would you do if all of the childcare workers finally got fed up with not making more than minimum wage and decide to seek other employment. Then all the working moms would be left caring for their own children. I wonder how much they would feel the job should pay then, when it is their time and energy being put into it. It is easy to drop your kids off, go to work, go about your day and take the person caring for your child for granted. Remember they are doing a little more than making fries.
