COVID-19 pandemic forces parents to make difficult child care decisions
Many parents say the pandemic, quarantines, and child care challenges have only added to what is already a hard job.
Alyssa Richard and her husband live in Saco with their two children. Both work full-time jobs and 4-year-old Otis and 2-year-old Owen are both in day care.
"The challenge that we faced due to the pandemic has been largely around the number of times they have had to quarantine because of an exposure at the daycare," Richard said. "And then they are identified as a close contact. Every time that happens, it's about 10 days where they can't be in daycare, so we have to figure out a way to work and care for them at the same time."
She says she and her husband are both risking maxing out their vacation and sick time or face having to take unpaid time off from work.
"From November to January, I think one or both of the kids were quarantined for six weeks. It was one after another," Richard said.
Despite the disruptions, they continued to pay day care tuition that is double the cost of their mortgage.
"Our kids have had to quarantine so many times that you just hit a point where you run out of options. You run out of time off. You kind of hit your limit with trying to work from home and care for them," Richard said.
Some parents, such as Koren Hawley in Auburn, had to leave the workforce altogether.
"I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom," said Hawley, adding that her choice was about cost.
"I'd be looking at close to $20,000 a year to pay for child care for two kids," Hawley said.
She said she is also worried about health concerns from COVID-19.
"It's navigating a whole new world, really. That's what it feels like," Hawley said.
Responding to a Facebook post from WMTW, more than 160 parents and providers wrote about the challenges they are facing.
Ashley Brito Pichardo wrote: "Glad to read this thread. We're struggling too, so it helps to know we aren't alone."
Jennifer Pellerin wrote: "Please address how impossible it is for parents of disabled children to find child care."
Krys Williams Carriere said: "No child care options meant the end of my career and I don't know where to go from here."
Some parents said they don't know what comes next.
"I'm really worried about the fall," Richard said. "My 4-year-old is starting in public schools and he'll be in a larger classroom setting and I can't help but think — if he's already had to quarantine this many times and that's in a smaller setting, before the delta variant, what is the fall going to look like?"