I love the daycare Lil Mootz attends. It's a DoD daycare. It's very roomy, the teachers are great, and he seems to have a good time while he's there. Plus, the cost can't be beat. The only downfall is that it is a littler over an hour roundtrip. (And aside from Stonewall and myself, only our moms have badges to get onto the Depot. That hasn't caused too much of a problem, but it is kind of inconvenient.)
Well, the head honchos of the CDC announced that they are raising daycare rates. Granted, not by a ton and it is the first raise in rates since 2006, but our new rate kind of changes things.
I looked at daycares closer to home about a year ago, but they couldn't really compare to the rates of our current daycare. I figured the extra miles were worth it because we were saving so much per month by using a DoD daycare. However, with the new rate there are a couple daycares in our area that are comparable rate-wise.
The thing is, when I went to look at other daycares, not only were they more expensive, but they just weren't as nice. I know that the CDC has government money behind it, so they can afford to charge cheaper rates, but maintain a nice and accredited facility. However, for $1000 a month (the cost of one of the local daycare centers), I expect more than what they are offering. Comparably, the rooms were smaller, the teacher to child ratio was worse, and the facility didn't seem as nicely kept.
I'm hoping the daycare I visit today is much nicer. It's about $50 more expensive than the CDC, but it is much closer to where we live. I will also have to take in to account that a "civilian" daycare may raise its rates yearly, while the CDC does not. Their website is very impressive. I know that seems silly, but I won't even look at a daycare if they don't have a decent website. If their facility is as nice or even niceer then there is a good chance Lil Mootz will be switching daycares.
Ugh! I hate having to deal with this. I just need to win the lottery, so I don't have to work and this will become a non-issue. Wish me luck with that...
3 comments:
Ugh...I know what you mean! When I was a working SINGLE mother to my oldest...her daycare rates were ALWAYS going up..it was civilian. But she went to the best in town, so they could always raise the rate because there was always someone else behind you on the waiting list that was willing to pay for the "best".
Just from what you blogged about here, if it were me...I would probably just keep her in the CDC and suck up the drive. You'll have to let me know what you find out today. Good luck!
But what can you do? You WANT/NEED your baby to be in an amazing envoriment that you trust in. I mean, he is the most valuable and irreplaceable "thing" you will EVER have.
We had the same dilemma when trying to pick a daycare for our daughter. Our first choice was on-post but I would've had to be the one taking her and it would've been a killer commute for me. We chose a center 5 minutes away from my job and but with the help we get from NACRRAA it has averaged out the cost. We're still paying a ton for infant care though and I'm not too thrilled with the place but my options are extremely limited.
I dream about winning the lottery too. Hee hee :)
I so feel you on this. My little one just started Kindergarten yesterday and we had to transfer her from the daycare near my work to the one that is near her elementary school and our house (which of course is clear on the other side of town!). Granted they are the same daycare but since she is going 5 half days instead of 3 full days the price jumped up! I could look for a cheaper daycare that will take her to school but I'm so comfortable with the company we have been using for the last 2.5 years that I'm just going to bite the bullet and deal with it. I'm also holding out on the lottery so I can be a SAHM and join the PTA!!!!!!
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