Daycare waitlists are long. I'm grateful that my mother and mother-in-law can help with childcare, but our system isn't perfect.

Tech Insider : Business
The author's daughter at the playground.
The author's mom and mother-in-law help with her daughter twice a week.

Courtesy of Riana Ang-Canning

Having 3 young kids left my husband and me exhausted and disconnected. This is what we did to feel like a team again.

Tech Insider : Business
Family poising for photo
The author and her husband have three kids under 3.

Courtesy of the author

I work at a coworking space that has an on-site preschool. It's completely changed my life and my parenting.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
Paulina Roe's daughter playing with a ball next to her day care room
The author's daughter goes to day care at a coworking space.

Courtesy of Paulina Roe

We didn't need childcare, but we still paid $7,500 to send our toddler to a program for 4 hours a week. It helped her build independence.

Tech Insider : Business
Child walking into school
The author's child attended school for four hours a day.

Courtesy of Michael Matassa

My husband and I spend nearly $20,000 a year on childcare. I work two jobs and cut back on my lifestyle, but it's worth it for my kids.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Technology
Clory Jackson and Mouhamadou Diaman standing in formal attire
Clory Jackson and Mouhamadou Diaman, raise their 4-year-old and a 2-year-old while working full-time

Clory Jackson

I sent my kids to day care and took the week off work. It was just what I needed to recharge.

Tech Insider
Happy woman stretching in bed after waking up. Happy young girl greets good day
The author decided to take the week off while her kids were at day care.

oatawa/Getty Images

Instead of spending money on camp or day care, I kept my daughter home this summer. We got more quality time, but it was harder to work.

Tech Insider
The author and his daughter standing outside in front of an Amtrak train and smiling.
The author got to spend more quality time with his daughter this summer.

Courtesy of Evan Porter

My mom provides our childcare, but we have different rules for the kids. It creates tension.

Tech Insider
Bethaney Phillips with her mom and two boys.
Bethaney Phillips' mom provides daycare for her two young boys.

Courtesy Bethaney Phillips

Georgia gave low-income Black women $20,000 over 2 years. A participant said the money helped her afford day care and pay bills.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Politics
Atlanta skyline at sunset.
A basic income program in Atlanta gave low-income Black women $850 a month, no-strings-attached.

ferrantraite / Getty Images

I'm a military spouse and childcare drained my savings. My husband and I lived paycheck to paycheck for a year.

Tech Insider
A collage of money and a woman holding a baby
Kayla Corbitt not pictured.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

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