What We Need - Danielle Jackson

The biggest challenge for me has been finding child care that is affordable and trustworthy. It is cheaper for me to drive 1,100 miles a month to take my kids to my family to watch them than it is to have child care closer to me. Also, not all child care centers are open during the evening, and I have to work 3 hours per week in the evenings. If it were not for me accruing debt before I had children and having excess bills to pay, I would be better off as a stay-at-home mom than I would be working.  

There is also something to say about being able to feel that you can leave your kids in the care of others and know that they are learning, being treated respectfully, and being properly cared for.  

One of the successes I have had is being a part of a home visiting program that helps me feel more connected with my children and gives me an opportunity to have someone work alongside me in encouraging growth and development. I have also been able to access resources that would have been otherwise hard for me to access. This opportunity also allows my children to have the experience to interact with others their age since they do not attend child care.  

With all of that said, some of the services my family needs most would be child care, cheaper gas, and groceries.