Single Parents often face tremendous problems in finding quality childcare for their children. Many parents have to work non-conventional, or not 9-5 hours when daycare centers are closed or relatives are not available to watch the children. Sometimes parents must leave their young children home alone because they can not afford the high cost of quality care, or the center closes before the parent can pick the child up. The decision to leave a child alone is often made by parents who are in anguish about the lack of childcare options available to them, while trying to balance the needs of their jobs and families.
I recently read about a new 24 hour child care center that was opened in Racine, Wisconsin, by three single mothers. They know first hand the challenges that many single mothers and fathers face when trying to find appropriate childcare. One of the owners stated: “We combined our experiences as single mothers who were dealt the hardships of finding quality child care at various work shifts. And therefore, we decided that a Christian-based center that is accessible 24 hours, seven days a week would help a wide variety of families solve the crisis of not having child care available to them.” The partners say: “Crisis is not too strong a word to describe being a single, working parent without reliable child care. I know the problems I had finding day care on second shift.” I hope that the 24 hour care facility will catch on and begin to open up throughout the country. Many families could be well served by this type of -out of the box thinking-care facility.
Regardless of what childcare option you use always do your homework, whether it is a facility, in home daycare, or a sitter at your house. In my next article I will review the advantages and disadvantages of each type of childcare as well as offer some basic tips that single parents in particular can do to make sure a facility or sitter is right for her.