It’s 3 p.m. and school is out, but mom and dad work till 5 p.m. Now what?
After-school programs solve a big problem for parents—most notably, how to occupy their children in the hours after school when most parents are either still at work or fighting traffic to get home to their families. But not all schools offer these programs.
I’m learning so much as a first-time parent trying to do the right thing for my child. I feel like my first big decision as a parent was choosing a daycare. Then it was preschool. After preschool, it was kindergarten. And now I’m faced with trying to find an after-school program. I understand the world isn’t easy, but why is this so difficult for working parents?
The After-School Struggle
After I made the grueling decision about which kindergarten Cohen would attend in the fall, I thought the tough part of choosing a school was over. Well, I was wrong. I came to find out the school I chose doesn’t have the standard after-school program. The school has nothing to do with the after-school program being “offered.” It’s through a completely different company and, of course, there is a waiting list for next fall.
So what am I supposed to do? Wait until July to figure out what I’m going to do with Cohen when the clock strikes 3 p.m. come fall? Now, I get to I spend my day looking for alternatives.
So here I am again, calling daycares in the area of his school, asking if they have after-school programs and if they pick up from his school. Most of the daycares near his school do offer both programs and pickup, but the cost is outrageous! I’m at a standstill.
What Are My Options?
- Do I wait until July to see if he can get into the after-school program at the school that’s a lot less expensive?
- Do I enroll him in a different daycare that provides after-school pickup from his school and pay more?
- Do I open-enroll him at a different school outside of our neighborhood so he can go to the same daycare as my daughter Collyns?
I know picking a quality school and after-school program is important, but there are all these hoops to jump through! It’s another parenting dilemma no one has mentioned.
Some days, it would be easier if I could afford to be a stay-at-home mother—or just have lots of money. But for now, I guess I’ll wait and keep my fingers crossed.
Mallory Connelly
Babies & Toddlers
In addition to the time I devote to being a mom, I also work full-time outside the home, which means my day is hardly ever as simple as nine to five. With an all-too-established schedule, as soon as I walk through the door, my day doesn’t end, but rather just begins. It’s a balancing act, especially with two children, but being a mom is one full-time job that I never want to quit!
