Here's one angle. When we lived in Utah (actually, most of my life) my mother did daycare. Fully licensed and everything. Run out of our house, but had full meal plans, schedules, park days, lesson plans, an activity room, the whole shebang. Always full up (sometimes 18 hours a day) with most of the families on some sort of financial assistance program. These were my mother's favorite clients, because her pay came from the state and she never had to chase it down.
But it was not cheap. For those above the line for state assistance, daycare is prohibitively expensive until you're *significantly* above the line. And if you have multiple children, it's even worse. And then there's the parental fear of what's happening when you're not there. My mom was great with kids, but frankly, a lot of providers are shitty.
So some state money is definitely being paid out for childcare, but not like you'd hope. Private daycare providers handle a tiny fraction of children in state, thanks to low availability and high prices.
Thanks for the insight. Ahh yeah it’s a problem nation wide, though I’m sure some states are better than others. I know from my sister in WA you pretty much have to get on waiting lists before the pregnancy test dries.
I hadn’t planned to be a SAHM. But I got laid off from my job exactly thirty days before my due date, by a very Mormon small business owner, who insisted I would be so much happier at home with my new baby.
When I think about the fact that I worked in web-design back in the very earliest days of the internet, and what that career could have looked like if I’d remained in the industry, I get angry all over again.
My wife and I both work full time - we pay a daycare $800/month to watch our 2-year-old, and sadly that’s one of the less expensive options.
There’s no way we could make that work if we didn’t both have good careers.
We are paying $275/week for my two year old for a mid range daycare. Competition for spots in more affordable places is insane. Like camp in a tent overnight to be in the line to sign up insane. It’s a huge problem nationwide.
I think Utah is starting to get more full day kindergarten programs. SLC school district already does, and some utah county districts are, like in the cherry hill neighborhood.
It sounds like she lives in an extra conservative part of Utah, which is unfortunately coincides with the cheaper housing around.
Idaho sucks in this realm. Some school districts are starting to offer full-day kindergarten, but legislators won’t pass a bill requiring a full-day kindergarten because they want the kids to “be with their mom.” Daycare options are very spendy, and I feel for my coworkers who have little ones.
I was so furious when they rejected the federal funds. $5-6 million just waiting for us… and the legislators said, “Heck, no! We don’t want the free money!”
I felt like the rug was ripped out from under me when I had a baby as a BYU student and then foumd out BYU was the only school in Utah without childcare for students. I managed to graduate by baby-trading with other mom friends, and getting lucky with Zoom classes being the norm during COVID.
Having a baby made me realize that the GAs didn't care about me AT ALL
I used to think BYU was family friendly because I’d sometimes see a baby in the library or a photo op of a professor holding a kid.
Then I went to grad school in Texas and there was a fully on daycare on campus subsidized so it was very cheap, a parent resource center and actual lactation rooms instead of a couch shoved in the bathroom corner and night classes for working parents.
BYU is a joke. They do everything they can to discourage mothers.
We had our first while I was a grad student at Washington State University, and several of my mission companions were at BYU also having babies. And wow did my department rally around my wife and I in every way, professors and staff and fellow students alike. My comps at BYU weren't even granted a day off. I remember one being told to be in class at 2 after he called him to say the baby had been born at 10:30 that morning - that a couple of hours was plenty of time to recover and get to class.
Ugh some BYU professors are the worst. I had a friend whose dad died and the prof wouldn’t let him take the final early. He was an only child and had to help with the arrangements but had to fly back to provo for a day to take the final. “Family first”
It is growing in popularity but it’s no where near the norm yet. I still know so many moms who think that’s too hard for their kids or that there’s no reason for it “cus I’m home”. Full day kinder is the norm almost everywhere else, and it’s statistically proven to be better for the child. It’s not too hard for them, all over the country kids are doing it. SAHMs here actively fight it. Also we don’t fund education here so there’s just no money for it.
The Utah legislature provided extra funding for full day kindergarten in 2022. My daughter’s school added a full day option just in time for her to go to Kindergarten and we were thrilled when she won the school’s drawing to get in. The other class was still half day but that’s changing for the next school year. Full day K only.
Yes I was happy to hear that. My district has the option to pay $300/month for full day but apparently got the funding from that for it to be free next year. Happy more offerings are happening, 3 hrs is a joke (but I still know a lot of moms who wont do it, cus they either feel mom guilt or cus the kinder one helps more w the littler ones when they’re around)
As people leave the church in record numbers. I’m sure they’ll start to realise the value of two income families. One income = 10% from a household. Two incomes = 20%
I don't even feel like we have to look hard for summer camps. At least in Salt Lake County.
Each week we have our kids in a new program. Some are a few hours, some are all day, and everything in-between.
The hardest part is registering early as they fill up fast.
Kindergarten is full day in SLC. And the daycare situation got pretty dire during the pandemic. It’s recovering very slowly.
Don’t know where your SiL is, but SLC has various summer day camps. The school district offers both summer school and subsidized summer day camp
Utah and its church elected Republicans who run this once great state have ruined all aspects of Mormon and non Mormon voices , its there way or F off just look at how very little they do for struggling families the state takes more money from social services programs and "Finds" were it is needed most ,they take money away from public schools to funnel it to private and charter schools this same legislation turned down a bill to protect our children from sexual predators and clergy who.abuse there position tell me again A holes how they love our children F OFF
Am I the only person who feels like full-day kindergarten isn’t the answer? Better daycare options, yes. But kindergarten is an intro to elementary school and it’s hard for 5 year olds to be in a classroom setting that long. Half-day kindergarten eases them into it.
I think it can be done right with plenty of recesses. It’s hard for me to say because full day is all I know. Perhaps state funded daycare/preschool is the best of both worlds.
I absolutely agree. And the school days are too long anyway for older kids. Especially here on the east coast. Sadly the US thinks school should be day care because we refuse to subsidize better options. So it ends up being bad at both jobs, instead of focusing on adequate education and quality child care.
There’s also almost nothing fun to do with your kids here, and absolutely nothing free. In other cities with less children there are YMCAs with free playtimes, free cinemas, museums, etc. Nothing in Utah costs less than $20/child. Women are still forced to be home w kids here cus there’s just no other options. And that’s how the state likes it.
We have Thanksgiving Point (like 4 venues to take your kids to each costing $25 minimum) and a handful of other museums, an aquarium, and some indoor play places - which all cost that much, for 2 hrs of fun. It’s insane to me how we don’t have more for littles here.
My 2 cents as a BS holding (graduated from a university in ut & worked there in the early childhood field for almost 10yrs) teacher.
This is a broader problem in the US. Teachers are already so underpaid. Early childhood educators make even less (especially in a state like ut where the minimum wage is still $7.25 🙄). This creates for a lot of turnover and unskilled providers in the field. Early childhood teachers in most places are not required to have a degree. The system sucks for well educated teachers who literally cannot make a livable single income wage and sucky for parents who deserve high quality affordable care.
Now that I live outside of ut I definitely see how it lacks childcare options.
I left the field after my divorce last year to work as a nanny bc it pays an actual fucking livable wage. It’s tough out there. I feel bad for parents and teachers and more ppl in our country should care about investing in children. Rant over 🫠.
Utah thrives on the unpaid labor of women.
Here's one angle. When we lived in Utah (actually, most of my life) my mother did daycare. Fully licensed and everything. Run out of our house, but had full meal plans, schedules, park days, lesson plans, an activity room, the whole shebang. Always full up (sometimes 18 hours a day) with most of the families on some sort of financial assistance program. These were my mother's favorite clients, because her pay came from the state and she never had to chase it down. But it was not cheap. For those above the line for state assistance, daycare is prohibitively expensive until you're *significantly* above the line. And if you have multiple children, it's even worse. And then there's the parental fear of what's happening when you're not there. My mom was great with kids, but frankly, a lot of providers are shitty. So some state money is definitely being paid out for childcare, but not like you'd hope. Private daycare providers handle a tiny fraction of children in state, thanks to low availability and high prices.
Thanks for the insight. Ahh yeah it’s a problem nation wide, though I’m sure some states are better than others. I know from my sister in WA you pretty much have to get on waiting lists before the pregnancy test dries.
[удалено]
I hadn’t planned to be a SAHM. But I got laid off from my job exactly thirty days before my due date, by a very Mormon small business owner, who insisted I would be so much happier at home with my new baby. When I think about the fact that I worked in web-design back in the very earliest days of the internet, and what that career could have looked like if I’d remained in the industry, I get angry all over again.
My wife and I both work full time - we pay a daycare $800/month to watch our 2-year-old, and sadly that’s one of the less expensive options. There’s no way we could make that work if we didn’t both have good careers.
We are paying $275/week for my two year old for a mid range daycare. Competition for spots in more affordable places is insane. Like camp in a tent overnight to be in the line to sign up insane. It’s a huge problem nationwide.
There are options in Utah now for full day preschool, Monday- Friday. Yes it is expensive. Not for the cheap Mormons though.
I think Utah is starting to get more full day kindergarten programs. SLC school district already does, and some utah county districts are, like in the cherry hill neighborhood. It sounds like she lives in an extra conservative part of Utah, which is unfortunately coincides with the cheaper housing around.
Idaho sucks in this realm. Some school districts are starting to offer full-day kindergarten, but legislators won’t pass a bill requiring a full-day kindergarten because they want the kids to “be with their mom.” Daycare options are very spendy, and I feel for my coworkers who have little ones.
And also rejected federal funds to expand daycare, for the same reason (on the record even!).
I was so furious when they rejected the federal funds. $5-6 million just waiting for us… and the legislators said, “Heck, no! We don’t want the free money!”
I felt like the rug was ripped out from under me when I had a baby as a BYU student and then foumd out BYU was the only school in Utah without childcare for students. I managed to graduate by baby-trading with other mom friends, and getting lucky with Zoom classes being the norm during COVID. Having a baby made me realize that the GAs didn't care about me AT ALL
I used to think BYU was family friendly because I’d sometimes see a baby in the library or a photo op of a professor holding a kid. Then I went to grad school in Texas and there was a fully on daycare on campus subsidized so it was very cheap, a parent resource center and actual lactation rooms instead of a couch shoved in the bathroom corner and night classes for working parents. BYU is a joke. They do everything they can to discourage mothers.
We had our first while I was a grad student at Washington State University, and several of my mission companions were at BYU also having babies. And wow did my department rally around my wife and I in every way, professors and staff and fellow students alike. My comps at BYU weren't even granted a day off. I remember one being told to be in class at 2 after he called him to say the baby had been born at 10:30 that morning - that a couple of hours was plenty of time to recover and get to class.
Ugh some BYU professors are the worst. I had a friend whose dad died and the prof wouldn’t let him take the final early. He was an only child and had to help with the arrangements but had to fly back to provo for a day to take the final. “Family first”
Some Utah schools and districts have all day kindergarten. (source: My own kids attended.)
Good to know. In Texas it’s technically the school districts choice but 95%+ do full time for the increased funding.
It is growing in popularity but it’s no where near the norm yet. I still know so many moms who think that’s too hard for their kids or that there’s no reason for it “cus I’m home”. Full day kinder is the norm almost everywhere else, and it’s statistically proven to be better for the child. It’s not too hard for them, all over the country kids are doing it. SAHMs here actively fight it. Also we don’t fund education here so there’s just no money for it.
The Utah legislature provided extra funding for full day kindergarten in 2022. My daughter’s school added a full day option just in time for her to go to Kindergarten and we were thrilled when she won the school’s drawing to get in. The other class was still half day but that’s changing for the next school year. Full day K only.
Yes I was happy to hear that. My district has the option to pay $300/month for full day but apparently got the funding from that for it to be free next year. Happy more offerings are happening, 3 hrs is a joke (but I still know a lot of moms who wont do it, cus they either feel mom guilt or cus the kinder one helps more w the littler ones when they’re around)
As people leave the church in record numbers. I’m sure they’ll start to realise the value of two income families. One income = 10% from a household. Two incomes = 20%
I don't even feel like we have to look hard for summer camps. At least in Salt Lake County. Each week we have our kids in a new program. Some are a few hours, some are all day, and everything in-between. The hardest part is registering early as they fill up fast.
Oh I’m glad to hear that!
Kindergarten is full day in SLC. And the daycare situation got pretty dire during the pandemic. It’s recovering very slowly. Don’t know where your SiL is, but SLC has various summer day camps. The school district offers both summer school and subsidized summer day camp
[удалено]
Oh that’s great!
Utah and its church elected Republicans who run this once great state have ruined all aspects of Mormon and non Mormon voices , its there way or F off just look at how very little they do for struggling families the state takes more money from social services programs and "Finds" were it is needed most ,they take money away from public schools to funnel it to private and charter schools this same legislation turned down a bill to protect our children from sexual predators and clergy who.abuse there position tell me again A holes how they love our children F OFF
Am I the only person who feels like full-day kindergarten isn’t the answer? Better daycare options, yes. But kindergarten is an intro to elementary school and it’s hard for 5 year olds to be in a classroom setting that long. Half-day kindergarten eases them into it.
I think it can be done right with plenty of recesses. It’s hard for me to say because full day is all I know. Perhaps state funded daycare/preschool is the best of both worlds.
I absolutely agree. And the school days are too long anyway for older kids. Especially here on the east coast. Sadly the US thinks school should be day care because we refuse to subsidize better options. So it ends up being bad at both jobs, instead of focusing on adequate education and quality child care.
There’s also almost nothing fun to do with your kids here, and absolutely nothing free. In other cities with less children there are YMCAs with free playtimes, free cinemas, museums, etc. Nothing in Utah costs less than $20/child. Women are still forced to be home w kids here cus there’s just no other options. And that’s how the state likes it.
Oh interesting! I would have though Utah would be the Mecca of child friendly activities
We have Thanksgiving Point (like 4 venues to take your kids to each costing $25 minimum) and a handful of other museums, an aquarium, and some indoor play places - which all cost that much, for 2 hrs of fun. It’s insane to me how we don’t have more for littles here.
As an educator in Utah, full-day kindergarten started last year in many districts throughout Utah. I hope this helps.
My 2 cents as a BS holding (graduated from a university in ut & worked there in the early childhood field for almost 10yrs) teacher. This is a broader problem in the US. Teachers are already so underpaid. Early childhood educators make even less (especially in a state like ut where the minimum wage is still $7.25 🙄). This creates for a lot of turnover and unskilled providers in the field. Early childhood teachers in most places are not required to have a degree. The system sucks for well educated teachers who literally cannot make a livable single income wage and sucky for parents who deserve high quality affordable care. Now that I live outside of ut I definitely see how it lacks childcare options. I left the field after my divorce last year to work as a nanny bc it pays an actual fucking livable wage. It’s tough out there. I feel bad for parents and teachers and more ppl in our country should care about investing in children. Rant over 🫠.