I’m sorry if that came off jerky. I’m not trying to put down your struggle. I’ve had similar situations myself. It’s just that those ideas aren’t the most helpful for most people at this time and it isn’t crazy for people to not want to sacrifice on that level. I would never expect childcare for peanuts, nor would I want to work for peanuts. I’m just saying that the logic is the same. If I had to suck it up and work for peanuts I would. It’s the same kind of sacrifice.

Covid 19 making your bank account suffer? Just move! Doesn’t matter if you have to break your lease or come up with triple the rent to get into the place. Another great idea during this pandemic (or any time) is to rent out a room in your home to a stranger. Sounds great. And hell, what SAHM needs a car? She’ll be plenty happy and never want to leave. (I can see eliminating a car payment and getting something cheaper) That marriage is destined for greatness. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t to survive? You mean like take a job that pays less than you’d like? I wouldn’t be a full time sitter for $200 a week either, but I might if I had to. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.

Don't be embarrassed! I understand how anxiety can take over. Ugh, some phone calls can be hard. The director's response was unprofessional and inappropriate. Condescending sounds like the perfect description. Don't let that creep bring you down.

yes, and I am so embarrassed I didnt stand up for myself. I have really bad anxiety and the call didn't go the way I had mentally rehearsed.

They actually called you "babe"?

I signed my DS10 up for homeschool band a few months ago, when I was still optimistic about COVID conditions. I just called to see if we can move our registration money to next semester bc it is still rampant here in the South and the director literally says "Well, yeah, but everybody is going to get it eventually so I'm just going ahead with classes anyway. We teach music here, babe, not science." I straight up forgot how condescending music people are. I left a music degree bc of people like him. Kind of want to talk my kid out of even trying music.

If anyone is having a hard time finding desks in time for home/virtual schooling, check out thrift stores. I had a $200 budget for a desk for DD...ended up scoring one for $20 at Goodwill, after looking in every store offline and online and the sale sites and not being able to find one to fit in DD's room. The ones I could find online wouldn't be here until late Septemeber. The one I found is real wood too!

I posted here some time ago about not starting a baby's quilt because I was afraid of another miscarriage. The baby is fine and I'm having my very first GIRL! Now I've been busy with parenting my boys during the day and jabbing my finger with the sewing needle at night.

The other issue is people don't want to downsize their life either. If they can't afford childcare, then they can get a cheaper/smaller home or let kids bunk together and rent out the extra room, be a 1 vehicle household, and have one spouse stay home and maybe try to get a job with opposing shifts or work from home. I've done all of these...When DD was born, ex and I worked opposing shifts. When he got a job across the country, we knew no one, I became a SAHM and we had 1 car, had to work around his job for appts and shopping. When I left him, I got a cheaper home and rented out a room to make ends meet. We just have to do what we have to do, even if it's not what we want to do.

This is the world now. I've seen several posts like that, and my thoughts were...how sad. Our economy was bad enough in that most families need two incomes to survive, and not everyone can save a lot. So many people were struggling as it was, and then COVID hit. People were losing hours or their jobs. Yep, there's unemployment, but there are thousands of people who are STILL waiting for it to come through. And in a lot of cases, UC isn't enough to pay the bills, etc., and they're getting further and further behind. For those with children who are going back to work/school, now they're in a pickle. I'm so grateful that I'm not in this position, and feel bad for those who are. At least they're trying to pay SOMETHING. I see a lot of posts looking for free childcare.